Gregory A. Bush, Hate Crime Murders, Kentucky 2018

Kentucky Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Hate Crime Murders

A Kentucky man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for his role in the racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store and the attempted murder of a third in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.

Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.

During his federal plea hearing, Bush admitted to driving to the Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol on October 24, 2018. Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head.

Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim and chose to shoot him because of the victim’s race. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.

In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim and chose to shoot her because of her race. Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun and began walking toward him with the gun drawn.

The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim and chose to shoot at him because of his race. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, “Don’t shoot me [and] I won’t shoot you. Whites don’t shoot whites.”

“The defendant is being held accountable for his vicious, racially-motivated attack on three Black individuals who were targeted because of the color of their skin, resulting in the untimely death of two of his victims and irreparable harm to the third,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Bush, defendant, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in connection with his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store and the attempted murder of a third in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. He was previously sentenced to a life term in state prison for the same crimes. The crime occurred on October 24, 2018 in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. Bush was 53 years old at the time of the crime. The charges against Bush include murder, attempted murder, and wanton endangerment. The case was investigated by the FBI and the ATF.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Violent Crime

James Mccoys, Methamphetamine Trafficking, California 2020

Jul 1, 2014

Violent Crime

Lloyd Webber, Bank Embezzlement, California 2022

Jul 1, 2011

Violent Crime

Devonte Okeith Mathis, Marijuana Trafficking and Aiding Gun Use, Illinois 2023

Jul 22, 2021

Violent Crime

Delacour, White-Collar Crimes, California 2024

Jul 1, 2008