Summary:
- The shooting outside a downtown restaurant and lounge has rekindled past traumas for Louisville as it grapples with yet another act of violence.
- Community members gathered in the aftermath to seek answers and find solace, expressing their frustrations and looking to officials for remedies.
- Mayor Craig Greenberg urged action from legislators, emphasizing the need to address the issue of late-night bars and the urgency to prevent future tragedies.
- The bar's license faces an emergency suspension order following the violence, leading to its potential revocation as the city works to respond to concerns.
The overnight shooting is also taking a toll on people across the area. WHS 11's Alexis Jones and photojournalist Elijah McKenzie spoke with one group calling for officials to make a change.
The shooting outside a southern restaurant and lounge has reopened all wounds for our city as it tries to recover from past acts of violence. In just hours after the tragedy, one group gathered to search for answers and help ease the pain. A moment of reflection is what several community members gained Sunday. The group laid out their frustrations as they honored those impacted by the shooting downtown. They also looked to officials for solutions.
Our legislators need to act. They need to do something, and we need to let them know that it is very important to us. Mayor Craig Greenberg shared the same sentiments during his press conference. 'Enough is enough. We can and we must do more. I'm calling on my colleagues at Metro Council to determine whether bars in our city should stay open until 4 a.m. or like many other cities in America, 2 a.m. is late enough.' In the meantime, he says Southern Lounge will remain closed. Alcohol and Beverage Control reached out to state officials to terminate the bar's license. It's called an emergency suspension order based on the violence that has taken place, and that process takes a little bit of time, but LNPD is going to send the reports over to the state officials which will start the clock and that would result in an immediate revocation of that license. City leaders add they've worked to close the business since July 10th after receiving several complaints, but unfortunately, Greenberg says they were unable to shut it down before lives were taken and Louisville.
Police are asking for the public's assistance as they continue to investigate. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line that's 574 LNPD. You can also use the online portal.