LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KHN) – Witnesses recounted a chaotic scene in which three people were shot and killed outside a Kentucky driver’s license office, with one man being shot multiple times by masked gunmen.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office released a statement late Friday naming the victims from earlier in the day as ranging in age from 18 to 33 years. According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, officers arrived around noon Friday and discovered one guy deceased at the site as well as two wounded ladies who died after being taken to the hospital.
According to the coroner’s statement, the guy, 18-year-old Leslye M. Harbin Jr., died of numerous gunshot wounds at the site, while the two women, 33-year-old Antwanette Chillers and 29-year-old Raysa Pacios Valdes, died of gunshot wounds at the hospital.
Authorities have not stated if the victims knew each other or knew who was responsible for the shooting. Witnesses reported that the mayhem occurred at the crowded office, which had a line out the door.
Jalen Eddings told WHAS-TV that he had gone to the office but returned to his car to wait out the long line when the shooting occurred nearby. He claimed two masked guys shot the man several times, including as he lay on the ground, before fleeing. He claimed he did not observe them shoot at the women.
“Like I was just in shock, I couldn’t believe it, it was like something off of a movie,” Eddings replied.
The incident occurred at a state Driver Licensing Office on the southern outskirts of Louisville, and numerous police officers responded. On Friday afternoon, police evidence markers were placed on the ground in an area around 20 feet (six meters) from the building’s entrance.
According to Police Maj. Donald Boeckman on Friday, the shooter fled in a vehicle. Boeckman did not describe the car and stated that police were currently studying CCTV video.
“It’s a tragedy, and I’m surprised there weren’t more people injured,” Boeckman told reporters.
Aaron Ellis, a police spokesman, said in an email Saturday that the department has no new information to give about the search for suspects. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a message on social media, calling the killing “a senseless act of violence.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which runs the license office, stated in a news release that security promptly shut down the premises following the gunfire and that no personnel were injured.
Another witness, Ali Raza, told WHAS that he was at the office when he “suddenly heard a lot of shots and people were screaming.”
He claimed that a security guard inside acted promptly by instructing them to get on the ground.
“He told us to get back on the ground. “He saved us,” he explained.