Police and soldiers return fire, killing man in Louisville

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National Guard vehicles drive into downtown behind police officers in riot gear as protests occur on May 30, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police officers and National Guard soldiers enforcing a curfew in Louisville killed a man early Monday when they returned fire after someone in a large group fired at them first, the city's police chief said.A shocked witness said the group had nothing to do with the protests, adding he never “thought I would experience that here in America.”

Police Chief Steve Conrad confirmed the shooting happened around 12:15 a.m. outside a food market on West Broadway, where police and the National Guard had been called to break up a large group of people gathering in defiance of the city's curfew.

Someone fired a shot at them and both soldiers and officers returned fire, the chief said. It was unclear if the person killed is the one who fired at the law enforcers. Several “persons of interest” were being interviewed, he said.

News outlets showed video taken by someone in a car parked at a gas station. It recorded the sound of bullets being fired as groups of police and national guard soldiers crouched behind cars.

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“It has been a very difficult four days for our city. Our officers are working very hard to keep people safe,” Conrad said. “While doing that, we've had officers shot at and assaulted. I think it’s very, very clear that many people do not trust the police. That is an issue that we’re going to have to work on and work through for a long time.”

Gov. Andy Beshear said he authorized state police to independently investigate Monday morning’s shooting, which he said happened as police and guardsmen were fired on while dispersing a crowd.

Kris Smith said he was at a barbecue restaurant when the soldiers arrived in military vehicles.

“We were just outside having a good time, having drinks, eating barbecue," he said.

When the soldiers arrived, he started walking to his car.

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“As soon as I walk to my car they jump out with the sticks, the police jump out with their sticks and their shields and stuff on," Smith said. “It looked like something out of a movie. It looked like a freaking war zone. ... I knew there was going to be some trouble.”

He heard a loud noise, and a few minutes later gunfire erupted, he said.

“It was like a delayed reaction, like they were looking to try and see where it was coming from, if it was a gunshot, if it was a firework, or whatever," Smith said. “Then all of a sudden they just started shooting.”

“You could see in their face that they look like they were scared or they were ready for whatever," he added.

Smith, who is black, said the group had nothing to do with the protests.

“This is really what it comes to?" he said “We’re just having drinks, chilling and the National Guard pulls up with machine guns? I never thought I could just be sitting somewhere having a drink, minding my own business, and the army pull up with machine guns and jump out. Never thought I would experience that here in America.”

Last week, before the Kentucky National Guard was mobilized, seven people were wounded when gunshots erupted during a protest in downtown Louisville. Police said none of the seven, who are recovering, were shot by police. They have not announced any arrests.

Protesters have been demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her home in Louisville. The 26-year-old EMT was shot eight times by narcotics detectives who knocked down her front door. No drugs were found in the home.

More than two months after her death, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer announced last week that police are suspending the use of these no-knock search warrants.

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Associated Press contributors include Rebecca Reynolds Yonker in Louisville and Sophia Tulp in Atlanta.