LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Residents of the Original Highlands voiced their concerns on Monday following a violent weekend on Baxter Avenue where two people were killed.
Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) confirmed that two people were killed and another was injured in two separate shootings on Aug. 11.
Richie Williams is accused of shooting and killing Monte Wade, before witnesses say Williams ran from the scene and was shot and injured by an unknown person.
In a separate shooting three minutes later, someone shot and killed Michael Bachelor Jr. just off Baxter Avenue. That person is still not in custody.
RELATED: 'We don't condone violence': Louisville bar says it's not to blame for fatal Highlands shooting
“The concerns of the community members are being heard and responded to by proactive work up and down all of our entertainment corridors in coordination of these agencies and others," said District 8 Metro Councilmember Ben Reno-Weber.
The Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Board met Monday to host a town hall to engage the community in solutions to the violence in their neighborhood.
"I think everybody’s fed up," said Original Highlands Neighborhood Association Board President Ralph Melbourne. “We’re seeing a lot more bars and a lot more capacity in the bars that exist.”
Melbourne said while the corridor has seen more entertainment over the last few years, it has not seen more police officers.
"We live in a predominantly safe community with a corridor problem," he said. "I don't think the corridor is being policed appropriately in terms of volume. I think the numbers are low based on the shear amount of people coming in, mostly for the express purpose of consuming alcohol."
While violence is still top of mind for many neighbors, other issues have also been arising.
Melbourne said the increase in car tailgating, people sitting in cars playing music and drinking, after the bars close have been an on-going issue for residents.
"I really would not want to live anywhere else in Louisville and I love the Original Highlands; it's a very quiet, quaint, peaceful community - except for the bar scene," said Maddie Cassaro, who has lived in the original highlands for 28 years.
Cassaro said she has seen a decrease in available parking spots for residents because of people visiting the corridor for entertainment.
"The bars are really infringing on the rights of the neighbors; we don't want to put them out of business, we just want them to realize that parking is a huge issue, and along with the parking comes with a myriad of other issues," Cassaro said.
While neighbors are pushing for change, LMPD said this year, officers made 27 felony arrests, served 25 arrest warrants, seized eight firearms, and recovered four stolen vehicles.
LMPD said the fifth division has seen a 6% decrease in crime for the year.
For now, the focus is with LMPD and the Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control to find a solution.
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