LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg said he feels "blessed" to be alive after someone tried to shoot him at his Butchertown campaign headquarters Monday morning.
Louisville Metro Police (LMPD) Chief Erika Shields said they received 911 calls about an "active aggressor" in the 1200 block of Story Ave. in Butchertown around 10:15 a.m.
Officers were able to safely clear the building, including Greenberg and his team, and Shields said the suspect, now identified as 21-year-old Quintez Brown, was taken into custody outside of the building.
"We are shaken, but safe," Greenberg said during a press briefing Monday afternoon. "I just want to get home to my wife and sons and give them a hug. I haven't been able to see them all day."
Greenberg said he and four team members were at their campaign headquarters Monday for a brief meeting when Brown walked into the office. When they greeted him, Greenberg said he pulled out a gun, pointed it at Greenberg, and fired.
He said one of his staff members was able to close the door on Brown and his team barricaded themselves in the office until law enforcement arrived.
According to Greenberg, a bullet grazed his sweater and shirt but no one was physically injured.
"I am blessed. My team is blessed," he said.
Chief Shields said the department believes the shooting was targeted.
Police are still investigating what motivated Brown, who's being charged with attempted murder and four counts of wanton endangerment.
Chief Shields said they are considering everything, including potential political and religious motivations.
"Mr. Greenberg is Jewish, so there’s that, we don’t know if it’s tied to the candidates or is political or if we are dealing with someone with mental issues or is venomous," she said. "We are looking at this from all angles."
Chief Shields said she believes Brown acted alone and there is currently no other threat.
"We consider ourselves very fortunate today," Shields said.
Officials with the ATF and FBI will assist in the investigation.
Several businesses in the area were open at the time of the shooting, including Copper and Kings Distillery.
Tour guide Daniel van Dijk said he was leading a small Valentine's Day tour when he and his guests started getting texts and notifications.
“There’s always something going on, sometimes odd things going on, but nothing like that has ever happened since I’ve lived here for 13 years," he said.
Van Dijk also lives nearby and said several friends and neighbors reached out about the incident.
He said, thankfully, all of Copper and Kings' staff and guests were already safe inside and said some other nearby businesses asked their staff to shelter in place until they got the all-clear.
“I’m not really sure how you would prepare for something like this," he said. "There probably does need to be a conversation that’s had.”
Story Ave. was reopened to traffic around 12:40 p.m., according to a tweet from LMPD.
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