"Whites do not shoot at whites," said Kroger's alleged shooter who killed 2 blacks

A man who entered Wednesday afternoon at a Kroger supermarket in the Louisville, Kentucky area, opened fire on unsuspecting customers, killing two people, reportedly telling an outside man that He did not have to worry about being killed white. "

Gregory Alan Bush, a 51-year-old white man, has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and ten counts of unjustified endangerment, according to Wave 3 News. He allegedly entered the Jeffersontown supermarket in the Louisville suburbs and shot several men at gunpoint before going out and firing a shot at a woman in the parking lot. Jeffersontown Police Chief Sam Rogers confirmed that both victims died on the scene.

Bush was brought to trial on Thursday and is on remand for a $ 5 million bail. He will be back in court on November 5 for a preliminary hearing.

The victims of the shooting are Maurice Stallard, 69, and Vicki Lee Jones, 67, both black.

The reasons for the shooting remain unclear and it is unclear whether or not Bush knew one of his victims before shooting at them.

According to the report of his arrest, Bush entered the store, pulled out a pistol from his belt and fired at Stallard – who was shopping with his grandson at the time – at the back of the shop. the head. Then, while Stallard was lying on the ground, Bush shot him several times. He then rearmed his gun and headed for the parking lot where he drew the gun and fired at Jones several times, causing his death.

After firing at Jones, Bush met a civilian with a concealed carry permit (CCDW), also armed with a pistol. Bush began shooting indiscriminately at the entire parking lot before he ran into his own vehicle. He was arrested shortly after by the Jeffersontown police.

Ed Harrell, who was waiting in the parking lot that his wife, Elaine, was coming out of the store, told the Courier-Journal in Louisville that when he had seen Bush come out of the store with a gun in his hand, he had pulled his own revolver, crouched next to his car and asked Bush what was happening.

"Do not shoot me. I will not shoot you. Whites do not shoot whites, "Bush told him.

This story was repeated by Harrell's son, Steve Zinninger, in a video interview with WAVE 3 News reporter Maira Ansari.

Kroger issued a statement via Twitter in response to the shooting Wednesday night.

"We are shocked and saddened by the shooting that occurred around 14:30. AND today, "writes the company. "Thanks to the quick intervention of the local police department, the suspect was apprehended and our store is secure. We cooperate with the forces of the order and participate in their investigations. Our store is closed and will reopen at the end of the investigation. We refer all other questions to local law enforcement. "

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Also issued a statement following the shooting.

"My staff and I are closely monitoring the situation at Jeffersontown's Kroger," McConnell said. "As we continue to learn about the events that have taken place, Elaine and I are asking the entire community of Louisville to join us in praying for the victims and their families. We would like to thank the brave men and women of the security forces who responded with professionalism and secure the premises. "

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said in a statement: "I am sorry for this shameful and horrible incident, and I am angry at the tragedy caused by people armed with guns who do not respect the law. human life. Over the next few days, we will learn more about what has happened today. For now, I am in mourning with the families of the victims. I ask all members of our community to keep them in their prayers and to pledge to act against gun-senseless violence. "

May the families of the victims get the justice they deserve for this senseless, and perhaps even racist, crime.