George Floyd Louisville Protests: Mayor Fires Police Chief For Handling Of David McAtee Shooting

Louisville Mayor Greg Fisher on Monday fired Steve Conrad, the city's police chief, for the handling of the shooting early Monday of local business owner David McAtee. The two officers allegedly responsible for the shooting either weren’t wearing body cameras or didn’t turn them on to record.

“This type of institutional failure will not be tolerated,” Fisher said at a press conference. “Accordingly, I have relieved Steve Conrad of his duties as chief of Louisville Metro Police Department.”

Conrad had planned to retire at the end of June but Fisher said he wanted a quick change in leadership. Deputy Chief Robert Schroeder will serve as interim police chief.

McAtee, 53, the owner of YaYa's BBQ in western Louisville, was known for offering meals to police officers.

“David was a friend to many, a well-known barbecue man that nurtured so many people in their bellies and their hearts before. And for him to be caught up in this, for him to not be here with us, is a tragedy. It's just hard to put into words.”

The shooting happened a little after 12 a.m. on Monday, while police and National Guard were breaking up protests near YaYa BBQ and a local grocery shop. Police said someone in the crowd allegedly fired on police and the officer promptly returned fire.

“Officers and soldiers begin to clear the lot and at some point were shot at,” Conrad said at a press conference shortly after the shooting. “Both LMPD and National Guard members returned fire, we have one man dead at the scene.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said the state police would investigate.

“Given the seriousness of the situation, I have authorized the Kentucky State Police to independently investigate the event,” Beshear said in a statement.

The officers allegedly responsible for McAtee’s death were identified as Allen Austin and Katie Crews. While no update has been provided on Austin, Crews has been placed on administrative reassignment on Monday. Prior to the shooting, Crews had mocked a demonstrator on Facebook.

Odessa Riley, McAtee’s mother, shared her sadness at the news of her son’s death. Riley said she has also been burdened this year by the loss of her daughter in January.

“They killed him for no reason,” Riley told reporters. “All I want to do is just see my son before they bring him out, that's all I want.”

“It's all right to lose a mother or father. You get hurt by that, too. But when a mother loses her child, a piece of you goes along with that child.”

Riley thanked Fisher for reaching out to the family offering condolences in the wake of the shooting.

“He even said a prayer and everything before he left,” Riley said. “Mayor Fischer was really nice, and I told him he was a good person.”

McAtee’s death has also drawn sharp reactions from users on Twitter.