A Kentucky man was sentenced in federal court to life in prison without parole in connection with his racially motivated murder of two Black patrons at a Kroger grocery store and his attempted murder of a third in Jeffersontown, Kentucky.<\/p>\n
Gregory A. Bush, 53, of Louisville, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty-but-mentally-ill to state charges for murder, attempted murder and wanton endangerment arising out of the shooting and was sentenced to a life term in state prison.<\/p>\n
During his federal plea hearing, Bush admitted that on Oct. 24, 2018, he drove to a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown armed with a Smith & Wesson, model 411, .40-caliber pistol. In the store, Bush followed a Black man, who was shopping with his grandson, for the length of an aisle before pulling the gun from his waistband and shooting the victim in the back of the head. Bush then shot the victim several more times in the torso, killing him. Bush had no prior relationship with the victim. Bush then re-holstered his gun and calmly walked out of the store.<\/p>\n
In the parking lot, Bush walked up to a Black woman and shot her several times in the head and body, killing her. Bush had no prior relationship with this victim.<\/p>\n
Seconds later, Bush encountered a Black man who was in lawful possession of a handgun. The third victim asked Bush what was going on, and Bush, without responding, began walking toward him with the gun drawn. The third victim fired at Bush, and Bush returned fire. After about a minute, Bush stopped shooting and walked away. Bush had no prior relationship with the third victim. Bush next encountered a white man, who was legally armed with a firearm. Bush told him, \u201cDon\u2019t shoot me [and] I won\u2019t shoot you. Whites don\u2019t shoot whites.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was later taken into custody.<\/p>\n