LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The man charged with shooting and killing a man on Baxter Avenue in the Highlands last weekend pleaded not guilty to murder.

Richie Williams, 37, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon in connection with the shooting that left two dead and one injured. Williams was in court Friday morning, where he pleaded not guilty to murdering 29-year-old Montay Wade, one of the victims who died in the shooting.

"The bond will now be $500,000 full cash plus H.I.P. if you're able to post that," District Court Judge Lisa Langford said." Absolutely no contact with the family and the location."

Langford refused to lower Williams' bond, saying the crimes Williams is charged with are too serious. She also mentioned that Williams already has "a very extensive record."

Michael Bachelor Jr. was also killed in the shooting, but, so far, no one has been charged for his death. 

"It's tragic (and) senseless," former gang member Demetrious McDowell said. 

McDowell has turned his life around with Bosses Not Bangers, a nonprofit that helps young people avoid gang-life. He said he got to chat with Bachelor, also known as rapper EST Lu Mike, before he passed. Community members said he performed at the KFC Yum Center with EST Gee at his concert last month. No one has been charged for his death.

"I felt like he could spread a positive message through the music he was providing," McDowell said. "He was very interested, but time didn't permit that."

The death of EST Lu Mike is the second death within the EST group in the last month. In July, 31-year-old DeVontae Beach was found shot to death inside a car on Main Street just a few blocks away from the KFC Yum Center, hours after EST Gee's sold-out concert.

Beach is listed on social media as the booking agent for EST Gee. LMPD said the two are gang members and longtime friends. EST Gee has more than 1 million followers on social media, and the EST in his name stands for "Everybody Shine Together."

LMPD had a heavy presence outside the KFC Yum Center for EST Gee's concert with at least 80 officers. The Homicide Unit is investigating Beach's death, but there aren't any suspects.

Back in 2021, the FBI and LMPD made a major drug trafficking bust involving members of the "Everybody Shine Together" gang. Ten people from EST were indicted for federal gun and drug charges. That included selling meth, fentanyl, cocaine and heroine.

Investigators said the group is a major gang in the city fueled by drug money. Agents said Eric Mosley was the leader of the conspiracy supplying large amounts of the drugs to distributors operating in Louisville and surrounding areas. The distributors would then dispense the drugs to lower-level distributors and users, the FBI said.

Police said Zaman Taylor coordinated and directed acts of violence by members of EST towards rival gangs and groups. The others indicted were mid and low level distributors.

LMPD has not commented on whether the Highlands shooting is the result of gang violence, but in June, interim chief Paul Humphrey told state lawmakers that gangs remain a real issue in the city.

Mayor Craig Greenberg also said Louisville "definitely" has a gang problem, and while many questions remain, LMPD has not commented on whether the Baxter Avenue shooting is the result of gang violence. But hours after it happened, Louisville Metro Councilman Ben Reno-Weber said it was.

"Metro Police believe this was a targeted hit stemming from a long-standing conflict, rather than an isolated incident that evening," he wrote in a recent email to constituents in his district.

Family members of the victims disagree. 

One of Wade's relatives tells WDRB the victims were not in a gang. However, it has been a struggle for them to find a place for the funeral services because of that perception.

Highlands shooting victims Montay Wade and Michael Bachelor Jr.

Pictured: in this image provided by former gang member Demetrious McDowell, Montay Wade (left) stands next to Michael Bachelor Jr. (right). They were gunned down in a triple shooting on Baxter Avenue in Louisville, Ky., in the early morning hours of Aug. 11, 2024. (Demetrious McDowell)

"Funeral homes and churches don't want to accept the deceased because they feel like something in-turn will happen," McDowell said.

The shooting in the early morning hours of Aug. 11 in the 900 block of Baxter Avenue, between Highland Avenue and Broadway, had LMPD officers and first responders scrambling to control the scene and treat victims. 

When the first officers arrived at the scene, they found three victims: one man who was dead and another man who was taken to UofL Hospital where he died. A third victim was taken to Norton Women and Children's Hospital and is expected to survive.

LMPD officials said Williams was arrested with help from the department's Fugitive Unit, Homicide Unit, Air Unit, SWAT, as well as officers from the Shively Police Department.

LMPD homicide detectives continue to search for suspects in Bachelor's death.

Anyone with information in this or any other case is asked to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously online through the LMPD Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.

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