Background: News footage of a memorial at the bus stop where Redaja Williams was killed on Aug. 13 (WHAS). Inset: Redaja Williams (Provided by Williams Family).
A Kentucky mother died after being shot by an unknown suspect while she walked her 7-year-old daughter to her bus stop.
The family of 23-year-old Redaja Williams spoke to the media after the mother of two young children was gunned down on Wednesday in front of her 7-year-old daughter. As they hoped to keep her memory alive, they used their platform to call for help in finding the person responsible for her violent death.
In a press conference hours after the shooting, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said he was “[h]eartbroken for the family of the victim today. Heartbroken for the little girl who was holding the victim”s hand. Heartbroken for all of the kids who were at the bus stop. Heartbroken for all of the other families around our entire city that are impacted by this shock and who are now scared.”
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Louisville Metropolitan Police Chief Paul Humphrey stated that police responded to calls of shots fired at around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. A woman, later identified as Williams, was “struck and killed.” Earlier reports stated that she had been taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police said that several people, including children, were in the area at other bus stops when the shooting took place. Kendra LaRue, who was friends with Williams and was there when she was shot, told local CBS affiliate WLKY, “Every time I close my eyes, I see her, and I hear her breath. I hear her gasping for air.”
Humphrey said during the press conference that a potential suspect was identified by witnesses at the scene. That person was interviewed by police and later cleared in Williams’ shooting. The alleged gunman is still at large. Police later posted two images of a possible suspect — a young Black man wearing a bright red hoodie sweatshirt and black sweatpants — who was seen around the location of Williams’ homicide on Wednesday.
Louisville Metropolitan Police have asked the public for information that can lead to a suspect in Williams’ killing. If anyone has information, they have provided an anonymous tip line at 502-574-LMPD and an online anonymous crime tip hotline.
