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LMPD investigating Russell neighborhood shooting that sends 4 people to hospital

Lining the front of the Russell Apartments at 18th Street and West Muhammad Ali Boulevard, tenants watched as the entrance to their homes turned into a crime scene.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Metro Police's Non-Fatal Shooting Unit is investigating a shooting that happened in the Russell neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Authorities said officers responded to reports of a shooting around 3:45 p.m. in the 1800 block of West Muhammad Ali Boulevard.

When officers arrived, police said they found three men and one woman shot; all of them were transported to UofL Hospital and they are expected to survive.

The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage is in the area and it went into temporary lockdown.

LMPD Lt. Stephen Lacefield said it appears a fight escalated near the Russell Apartments complex and it led to at least four shots being fired and people scattering.

Lacefield said it's not clear yet if any of the victims may also be suspects.

"Potentially there could be. That's what we're trying to iron out right now," he said.

The shooting also happened near several businesses, including Scruples by Chic hair salon.

Regina Cox, an employee for more than 30 years, said she locked the door of the business the moment she and her customers inside heard gunfire.

"There was a young lady running down the street, she was screaming, 'I want my mother, I want my mother. It burns,'" Cox said. "I didn't grow up like this. No one wants to raise their children in this."

Cox, who grew up in Louisville, is fed up. She said she remembers the days the city's violence wasn't this rampant.

"You can't even go to work. Our kids can't even go to school," Cox said.

She told WHAS11 that the community has reached a point where people don't know how to resolve conflicts, and the respect for each other is gone.

"You're not proving anything. Your life is over. You're either dead or in jail -- stop it. It's pointless," Cox said.

Lacefield said LMPD had six detectives on scene, made possible by the creation of the Nonfatal Shooting Squad just months ago.

Anyone with information is asked to call the anonymous tip line at 574-LMPD (5673) or use their online tip portal.

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