LOUISVILLE, Ky. — LMPD released videos showing multiple looting incidents throughout the last week. They include a man shooting his gun at 26th and Broadway and another man with a hammer breaking through glass. One shows the Jefferson Mall ripped to shreds. Other's include footage of items stolen and glass shattered at the Louisville Armory, Wish's Discount Drugs, and the Walmart on Outer Loop. All of this happened once the sun went down within the last week.
"Looting is criminal activity fueled by opportunity these protests provide,” said LMPD Major Joshua Juda. "What's happening in our city after demonstrators disperse is violent, aggressive, destructive looting."
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he applauds the majority of protestors for being peaceful, which is why he has removed the curfew, but blames others for stirring up chaos on every corner of the city.
"We are not going to allow or accept any unlawful activity that prevents us from moving forward,” Fischer said.
While presenting the video, Juda discussed the burglaries and destruction caught on video saying the actions are not contributing to getting justice, but rather has become an opportunity for these people to take advantage.
"Looting has nothing to do with Breonna Taylor's death. Looting has nothing to do with how the officers of LMPD conduct themselves, looting has nothing to do with making us a stronger city,” Juda said.
Not long after the news conference, people on social media started to question the videos presented, asking why only African American people were shown. We spoke to Fischer just a few hours later, and he said all kinds of people create criminal activity; this was just the video LMPD had.
"We're at a point where everybody looks at things and runs off in different directions. The point is, there is looting going on in the community. Whether it's conducted by anybody of any skin color, it's wrong,” Fischer said.
A west Louisville Kroger, liquor house and a Verizon on New Cut Road, were just some of the other businesses affected.
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