Louisville PD releases additional video from site where David McAtee was shot and killed
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a tumultuous Monday full of protests following the fatal shooting of Louisville business owner David McAtee, Louisville Metro Police released additional video footage Tuesday they say shows McAtee shooting a gun before law enforcement officials returned fire.
McAtee, owner of YaYa's BBQ and described as a “community pillar,” was shot and killed at 12:15 a.m. local time Monday in a crowd that had gathered at Dino’s Food Mart, the grocery next to McAtee’s barbecue stand. Louisville Metro Police officers and National Guard personnel, who had been called in over the weekend to assist with the ongoing Breonna Taylor protests, were breaking up the crowd in the parking lot, officials said.
Before playing the footage at the press conference Tuesday, interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the video "does not answer every question," including why he allegedly fired.
"We are providing this information because we have made a pledge to this community to be transparent," Schroeder said. "The video appears to show Mr. McAtee firing a gun outside of his business door as officers who are using pepper balls to clear the Dino's lot were approaching. The video does not provide all the answers, but we are releasing it to provide transparency."
Warning: This video contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.
Live updates on George Floyd protests: Federal prisons locked down; social media goes dark for #BlackoutTuesday; New York City imposes earlier curfew
On Monday at around 4 p.m., LMPD Chief Steve Conrad was fired after Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced that officers at the scene did not have body cameras operating during the shooting. Before Tuesday, police had said it was unclear who fired the shots officers reacted to.
After the additional footage was released Tuesday, Lt. Paul Humphrey said that McAtee “appears to fire at the officers” before they take cover and return fire.
“Without the audio and without having interviewed the officers yet, that is yet to be determined exactly how those incidents occurred,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey said it's typical that officers are interviewed a day or two after an incident to give them time to have legal counsel.
Protesters have taken to the streets in the past five nights, beginning Thursday, to demand action against the officers who killed Taylor in her home while executing a “no-knock” search warrant in the middle of the night.
Who was David McAtee? Community praises Louisville business owner killed Monday by authorities
'Reprehensible': Washington archbishop denounces Trump visit to Catholic shrine as 'baffling'
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: David McAtee: Louisville police releases video from site of shooting
