LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A homicide investigation is underway in the Shawnee neighborhood after a shooting Thursday night.
A spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) said officers responded to reports of a shooting around 9 p.m. at South 41st St. near River Park Dr. When they arrived, they found broken glass and the door of a home open. Herbert Daniels, 74, was found shot inside the home and died from his injuries.
"That made me nervous. Very nervous," said a neighbor by the name of Harriett. "There are a lot of people that live in this area that are over 70. So that was just heartbreaking."
Investigators believe two groups of people were shooting outside the home and the victim got caught in the crossfire when he looked outside to see what was happening. They do not believe the victim was involved in the gunfight.
"I think I woke up today particularly disturbed. The idea that a senior citizen is in their home, living their life, and is somehow the victim of stray gunshots," said Councilwoman Jessica Green, of District 1.
A post on her Facebook page Friday expressed her frustrations:
"Every shooting hurts. Some are just particularly tragic. Imagine being a Senior Citizen peacefully enjoying the comforts of your own home when you are shot and killed by gunfire outside your home. I’m so angry. I heard gun shots ring out last night as I was home with my family. I turned to my husband at the time and said there’s guns again. This hits directly home because this could have happened to my family. We don’t deserve stray gun fire just because we happen to live in West Louisville. Now, more than ever we need the collaboration between law enforcement and community partners to help us fix the sickening disease of gun violence. We hold law enforcement accountable, but we also have to hold our own accountable. Let’s work and build together y’all."
She told WHAS11 News that the violence gives her a "sickening feeling."
"No matter what area of town you live in, no matter the color of your skin, we all deserve to be able to walk to and from our cars in peace, to be able to sit in our house and eat dinner," she explained.
There have been 14 murders within the first 21 days of this year.
"I don't know what we can do other then, people have to band together and even just work together and stop all this craziness," said Harriett.
Councilwoman Green said the answer includes holding shooters accountable
"We will not accept this kind of behavior in our neighborhood. Shooters, violent offenders, you have no place here," she said Friday.
As the Chair of Louisville Metro Public Safety Committee, she hopes LMPD's new Police Chief Erika Shields will move the city forward.
Anyone with information in this case is asked to call the anonymous police tip line at 574-LMPD.
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