Police searching for suspect who shot and killed woman near Louisville bus stop

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville police said a woman was shot and killed while walking a child to school in the Russell neighborhood Wednesday morning. 

Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey said the shooting happened about 8 a.m. at 10th and Chestnut streets, which is near the Chestnut Street Family YMCA, Coleridge-Taylor Montessori Elementary School, Central High School and several bus stops. 

Humphrey said the young woman was walking a young child to the bus stop when the shooting happened. She was taken to UofL Health Hospital downtown, where she died. The child wasn't injured. 

LMPD worked with Jefferson County Public Schools Police to identify and locate a 15-year-old suspect, who was arrested near Shawnee High School and questioned by homicide detectives. However, Humphrey said later Wednesday that the teenager was deemed to have been there but not the one who pulled the trigger. He was then released.

Humphrey said they're searching for the murder suspect and described him as a young Black male wearing a red hoodie sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

The chief said there were "several" children at the bus stop who witnessed what happened.

"It is unacceptable that people simply trying to go to school must fear for their safety ..." Humphrey said. 

He said LMPD and the YMCA are working with students and families impacted by the violence. JCPS counselors are supporting students, and the Office of Violence Prevention is also involved. 

"Kids should be able to go to school — go to the bus stop in the morning — without any fear of gun violence, without any fear of having to run for their life in the morning," he said. "It's absolutely unacceptable that these types of incidents have happened now twice in the last week."

The chief emphasized how distressing this shooting has been for all involved. 

"I want to remind you that these are not anonymous faces of kids and gunman. These are our kids," Humphrey said. "These are our kids in our neighborhoods and our communities that we're talking about.

"These are lives that are forever changed because of incidents like this, whether they are the actual victim or they experience this (and) they witness this. This is a traumatic event for so many people that changes neighborhoods for the worse. The is the second time in a week that we're talking about this, and it's absolutely pathetic."

'I'm angry'

Humphrey noted several Louisville Metro Council members were at the scene while he spoke to the media. He said LMPD has talked recently about homicide rates being down but said "it's not where it needs to be." 

"... it's absolutely unacceptable and we are not going to tolerate it," he said. "And we are going to work together with the community to make sure we solve this and bring justice to this family and prevent this from happening any time in the future."

The fatal shooting happened near another shooting scene on West Chestnut Street, where someone opened fire near a bus stop on Aug.7, the first day of school for JCPS. A 15-year-old is facing 34 charges including wanton endangerment and possession of a handgun by a minor.

Humphrey said homicide detectives are looking into whether the two shootings are connected and added that Wednesday's shooting was the first day of the school year there hadn't been a police presence at the bus stop.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood joined Humphrey for a news conference downtown Wednesday afternoon, expressing their own outrage at what happened so close to kids arriving to school.

"My final emotion that I've had all day is I'm angry," Greenberg said. "I'm angry at the individual who killed this woman today. I'm angry at the two people who shot at the same bus stop last week. I'm angry that people still do this in 2025 in our city."

Yearwood aimed his ire at parents.

"Your role is paramount," he said. "Your role is key. We the school system can provide education. We can provide resources. We can provide support. But it is the home where the foundation of responsibility, accountability and respect for life is built."

'I'm tired' | Louisville activist challenges LMPD, mayor on progress in fighting gun violence

This was the second shooting at the same bus stop in a week. One west Louisville activist said she's had enough, and she let the city's top leaders know it.

Juanisha Saunders, a familiar face at crime scenes and community events, didn’t hold back when she confronted Greenberg and Humphrey on the steps of Metro Hall as they spoke about Wednesday morning's shooting.

“You keep rudely interrupting me,” Saunders said to city leaders. “You should have no problems with my questions. What I’m asking you is what is LMPD going to do to have relationships within the community so they’re going to know it’s not over? That they don’t need to leave?”

Her frustration comes after a morning shooting near a bus stop around 8 a.m., when dozens of children were on their way to school. It was the second time in a week that LMPD was searching for a shooter in the same neighborhood.

By the afternoon, tensions were high. A Shawnee High School bus ran late, and some residents worried police questioning of a student earlier in the day could make matters worse.

Saunders says the department’s lack of trust and communication with the community keeps them from getting the information they need.

“You didn’t let me finish my sentence,” she told city leaders. “You can anticipate what’s going on in the community — but who can tell you better than the people that are out here every day, the people doing the work?”

She also accused city officials of painting a false picture of progress.

“I’m tired of them getting on the news and telling us lies about the community,” Saunders said. “The crime rate is not down. The shootings are not down. I know because I’m going to the scenes. I’m going to the funerals. I’m going to the hospitals.”

Earlier in the day, Humphrey acknowledged the shootings were “absolutely pathetic” but said the city’s overall homicide and violent crime rates have decreased compared to last year.

“I’m very proud that homicide rates are down and that violent crime is down — that is great,” she said. “But it is obviously not where it needs to be.”

For Saunders, the solution starts with more honesty and stronger relationships between police and the people they serve.

“If LMPD had relationships, they would know what happened," she said. "Absolutely. Yeah, I’m not going to tell you. Absolutely not.”

Anyone with additional information about what happened is asked to call the tip line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). You can remain anonymous. 

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