Background: News footage depicts a memorial at the bus stop where Redaja Williams lost her life on Aug. 13 (WHAS). Inset: Redaja Williams (Courtesy of the 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 addressed the media following the tragic shooting of the mother of two in front of her 7-year-old daughter. Seeking justice for Williams, they implored for assistance in uncovering the perpetrator behind her untimely demise.
During a press briefing conducted a few hours post-incident, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg expressed profound sorrow, stating, “I’m heartbroken for the victim’s family. Heartbroken for the little girl holding her mother’s hand. Heartbroken for the children at the bus stop and all the families within our community affected by this tragedy and now living in fear.”
Louisville Metropolitan Police Chief Paul Humphrey reported that officers arrived at the scene following reports of gunfire around 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The victim, identified as Williams, was found “hit and killed.” Initial accounts mentioned she was taken to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The area was crowded with several individuals, including children, scattered across various bus stops when the shooting occurred. Kendra LaRue, who shared a close friendship with Williams and witnessed the incident, emotionally recounted to local CBS affiliate WLKY, “Every time I shut my eyes, her presence and her struggle for breath haunt me.”
Chief Humphrey mentioned at the press briefing that eyewitnesses at the scene had identified a potential suspect, who was later questioned by the police and absolved from involvement in Williams’ shooting. The shooter remains at large. The police subsequently shared images of a suspect — a young Black male clad in a vivid red hoodie and black sweatpants — observed near the crime scene on the day Williams was killed.
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.
