Gregory A. Bush, Racially Motivated Murder, Kentucky 2018

In a shocking display of racial hatred, Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes and firearm charges arising out of his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store, and his attempted murder of a third, on October 24, 2018, in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.

Bush previously 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 the plea hearing in federal court, Bush admitted that he drove to the Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, 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 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. Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire.

“Today’s guilty plea will ensure that a violent and disturbed man will never get another chance to target and terrorize the Black community,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pamela S. Karlan for the Civil Rights Division. “It won’t bring back two pillars of the Louisville community, whose tragic and senseless deaths we mourn, but we hope it sends the message that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators of bias-motivated violence to justice.”

The defendant, Gregory A. Bush, is scheduled to be sentenced on federal charges. Mandatory facts include:

• Defendant: Gregory A. Bush
• Criminal charges: Federal hate crimes and firearm charges
• City and state: Louisville, Kentucky
• Exact date: October 24, 2018
• Sentence: Life term in state prison for state charges, federal sentence pending

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdky/pr/kroger-shooter-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crimes-and-firearm-offenses