Louisville woman murdered walking her daughter to school was targeted, police say

A Louisville Metro Police homicide detective released more information Friday after two mothers were shot and killed in the same day.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville Metro Police homicide detective released more information Friday after two mothers were shot and killed a day apart.

Redaja Williams, 24, was shot four times at 10th and Chestnut streets around 8 a.m. Wednesday as she was walking her daughter to the bus stop. Jermia Offutt, 28, was shot in the 4100 block of West Broadway, near Cecil Avenue, at 9 p.m. the following day. She was taken to UofL Hospital, where she and her unborn son died.

During a news briefing Friday morning, Homicide Commander Lt. Les Skaggs said Williams was targeted by her killer.

"When I say that that Miss Williams was the target, we have reviewed surveillance video," Skaggs said. "It shows our suspect in the red hoodie, display a firearm, take aim and fire in the direction of Miss Williams multiple times. I feel again very confident saying that she was the target of that of that homicide."

Skaggs said Offutt was a bystander when she was shot and killed while she was with her boyfriend in the parking lot of Brothers Market at 41st Street and Broadway late Thursday night. Offutt, a mother of three, died at the scene.

"She was standing in the parking lot of a market with her boyfriend at a time when two groups of what appear to be juveniles or young adults approached each other, exchanged words, and one of those individuals displayed a firearm, firing it toward the other group but unintentionally struck Miss Offit," Skaggs said. "She was a innocent bystander. She was not part of either of the two groups that met on that market parking lot."

Skaggs said surveillance video clearly shows that witnesses were present during both homicides.

"We need those eyewitnesses to be able to talk to us, to tell us first hand what they witnessed at those two incidents," he said. "We need these eyewitnesses to come forward so we can get these killers off the street."

He reiterated although police are at the forefront of fighting violent crime, law enforcement needs help from the community. People are often afraid to tell police what they know because they're worried about retaliation, and phrases like "snitches get stitches" add to that fear, Skaggs said, adding that mentality is starting to change.

"All of these partners, including the community, judicial and legislative, have joined with LMPD and are saying 'We are ready to change and make this problem go away,'" Skaggs said. "Eyewitnesses are crucial in a homicide investigation. Outside of physical evidence, we have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone committed this act. If there's a lack of physical evidence, it makes eyewitness testimony crucial in identifying and prosecuting these people and getting them off the street in a court of law and putting them in prison."

Skaggs said community members who want to take back their neighborhoods need to start standing up to the criminals and say "enough is enough.

"If you don't talk, you're allowing these killers to get away with murder."

Skaggs said Offut's and Williams' murders don't appear to be connected.

"At this time, we think they are two completely separate incidents," he said.

Investigators are looking into whether either shooting was gang-related but said it's too early to determine that at this point.

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