"This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated. Accordingly, I have relieved Steve Conrad of his duties as chief of Louisville Metro Police Department," Fischer said.The victim is identified as David McAtee, who owned a barbecue near the shooting scene.
Police said the shooting happened when officers tried to break up a large group of protesters. They said someone opened fire on law enforcement and officers blindly/aimlessly returned fire.
The two officers involved in the shooting violated department policy by not activating the bodycams, said Deputy Chief Robert Schroeder.
"We will review the entire incident to determine if there were any other policy violations that occurred. I assure you, there will be discipline for failing to utilize our cameras."Fischer said the National Guard will also carry out an investigation.
"I strongly welcome these external investigations ... and will support them in any way possible," Fischer said.Police officers and members of the National Guard had been enforcing the city's curfew amid demonstrations over the killing of Breonna Taylor and nationwide protests over George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. At least 40 protesters were arrested at demonstrations in Louisville on Sunday.
Schroeder said there is footage available from the police department's "real-time crime center" that shows the shooting from a distance and that they released that video Monday.
Louisville was home to Taylor, who was in bed with her boyfriend when three plainclothes police detectives entered her home in March. Gunfire erupted and Taylor was killed.
Taylor's death led to protests and the end of the Louisville police practice of "no-knock" search warrants, which allow officers to enter a home without announcing their presence, often in drug cases to prevent suspects from getting rid of a stash.
"Our community is devastated yet again. Not only are we fighting for justice for Breonna Taylor, but we have lost another treasured Louisvillian, Mr. David McAtee. While we demand accountability and know that structural and policy changes must be made, I am committed to standing with the people of our city to build trust and a path forward. In the midst of our pain today, a powerful display of unity was shown as officers put down their weapons and the community locked arms. Let's build on that, demand justice and heal together," Representative Charles Booker of Kentucky said Monday.On Monday, McAtee's family spoke out, saying he was known as a "community pillar" and "was a good person."
"All he did on that barbecue corner is try to make a dollar for himself and his family and they come along and they killed my son."
"When a mother loses her child, a piece of you goes along with that child," McAtee's mother said.
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