Louisville Shooting: 3 Dead, 2 Hospitalized In 2 Kentucky Shootings, Cops Say

Investigators inspect the scene where four people were shot on a street corner in a west Louisville neighborhood Thursday, May 17, 2012. Police say two of the four people have died after being shot near 32nd and Kentucky Streets, and more gunfire rang out while officers were investigating. (AP Photo/The Courier-Journal, Michael Clevenger)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three people were killed Thursday after a chaotic shooting scene that had crowds running for cover in a crime-ridden section of Louisville.

Two men – Tyson Mimms, 24 and Craig Bland Jr., 22 – were killed Thursday afternoon in a shooting that attracted dozens of onlookers anxious for answers in the city's Russell neighborhood, which is dotted with boarded-up houses.

As police investigated and a host of media gathered nearby, shots rang out about four houses down. Makeba Lee, 24, was killed after she was shot by a woman who had gotten into an argument with her about the incident, police said.

That woman was later wounded by police and taken to the hospital, Louisville Metro Police Chief Steve Conrad. Jefferson County chief deputy coroner Jo-Ann Farmer identified the three slain people on Thursday night.

Police have not released a motive for the first shooting, which also wounded at least three other people.

There appears to be no connection between the slayings, Conrad said.

"We had people at the scene yelling," said Conrad, who spent his day in the neighborhood west of downtown working with officers in that precinct before the shootings. "I don't know if that played a role or not. This level of violent behavior is unacceptable."

The shootings made the day the bloodiest in Louisville since at least July 5, 2011, when four people were killed, and Oct. 6, 2008, when a mother stabbed her two children, then killed herself on the same day two other homicides took place.

Tekeya Anderson said the female victim in the second shooting was her cousin.

"I guess she was in the wrong place at the wrong time and she got shot," Anderson said. "She came down here and she got shot."

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Associated Press reporter Brett Barrouquere is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/BBarrouquereAP

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Comments

[bdoug25000]

08:37 AM on 05/20/2012

"She came down here and she got shot."

Unless you're a cop or a soldier, running to the sound of guns is really not the best course of action....

Drama Queens and Drama seekers should stay home and watch it on theit TVs.

[Tim Fuller]

04:00 AM on 05/20/2012

True story. The neighborhood I used to live had a guy get shot and run toward his house crying for help. His wife was home at the time, but she was sleeping on the couch. It took her an insane amount of time to wake up and open the door to help her husband. The reason she gave: She was dreaming that her husband had gotten shot and was screaming for help and didn't realize it was "real". You know things are bad in the 'hood when you are dreaming about your husband getting shot in the first place. To have it happen at the exact time as the dream is really special. Enjoy.

[peacecookie]

12:50 PM on 05/19/2012

So young to die.

Where and how did the shooters get their guns?

[stymie500r]

10:25 AM on 05/20/2012

Just a guess, in Lousiville, with cash, somewhere "in the hood".

[KIVPossum]

04:26 AM on 05/19/2012

Shoot your neighbor over an argument about a shooting!

Sounds like a nice quiet neighborhood to live in

[Chocolate51]

05:45 PM on 05/18/2012

May God bless all of those poor, unraised childen who grow up to be heartless individuals. Most women living in these types of environments do nothing but have babies they can't support. Mandatory birth control laws for should be placed in effect immediately for young women until they reach 18 years of age. Because the law recognizes you as an adult at 18, still the focus should be on college not on sleeping around having unprotected sex. It is possible for a mother to be a successful single parent, you have to put your mind to completing the task of raising the individuals you brought to this planet. I say lock up all the criminals who use illegal handguns to murder, by giving them 100 year sentences. No exceptions.

[zaniah]

10:46 AM on 05/18/2012

That is so sad

[Levonsky]

10:35 AM on 05/18/2012

here's an idea: as soon as someone pops out of the womb the NRA should give them a gun and wish them good luck cause that's all the goppers want the government to do for its citizens, besides its good training for when they join the army from notbeing able to finding a job, and put those marksmanship skills to good use.

[eaglespark]

09:15 PM on 05/18/2012

Here is an idea: post something relevant to the news story. Something besides fictional nonsense would be good, too...

[stymie500r]

10:28 AM on 05/20/2012

Here's a better idea, Wayne Lapierre for Pres. I like my Ammendments...all of em.

[Levonsky]

08:12 AM on 05/21/2012

yea, the ones that can be taken away for whatever reason at anytime regardless of how well armed you might be.

[weebles48]

10:08 AM on 05/18/2012

there is a connection. they all lived in western louisville. if you live there move. if you don't live there don't visit.
all of louisville is not churchill downs.

[okim5150]

09:34 AM on 05/18/2012

"The shootings made the day the bloodiest in Louisville since at least July 5, 2011, when four people were killed"

That's less than a year ago. I guess they could have said the bloodiest in Louisville so far this year.

[The Dude67]

08:15 AM on 05/18/2012

Well we can't all lounge around Churchill Downs sipping mint juleps now can we?

[mircakes]

12:10 AM on 05/18/2012

Born and raised in Louisville, until I graduated High School; now I'm 21 and in Los Angeles. It's funny that such a seemingly calm city actually has one of the highest homicide rates in the country. And it's only getting worse.

I have a friend who was mugged in broad daylight on Bardstown road about two years ago, and less than a year ago another friend of mine had the gas siphoned out of her car. Also, a classmate of mine's little brother (who also went to our school, Ballard) was murdered by two of his classmates over $60. If you've been to Louisville you'll know why all of these things are surprising. It's a place where people leave their cars unlocked and go places late at night without much fear (excluding the west and south ends), but it only *seems* safe. The culture, the economy, the weather, everything is sooo odd about Louisville. It'll always be my hometown, but I'm never, ever, EVER going back.

[ardethbay]

06:18 PM on 05/17/2012

It's messed up that my city never makes it in the news for anything good.

[WhatchaTalkinBoutWillis]

08:52 PM on 05/17/2012

I hear ya! My STATE is never in the news for anything good!
Mississippi Goddam!

[yvonne4]

10:23 PM on 05/17/2012

be happy,you live in a good state.smile

[Fenrir Lokison]

07:41 AM on 05/18/2012

What? Mississippi really does exist? :P

My birth state seems to be in the news a lot. Go Florida. Land of the old and criminal.

[mircakes]

12:15 AM on 05/18/2012

I really hate to say it because Louisville is my hometown, but it's because not much good comes out of that place... Thankfully, I got out while I could, right after graduating HS.

All of the friends I left behind are 21-22 and pregnant (or they have a small child), married, or both, and most barely have their GED. For me, Louisville is like a place where dreams go to die... Harsh, I know, but every time I land back home I feel this kind of hopelessness hanging in the air. But since it's home, I'll always have a degree of love for it, and I claim my city proudly.

[Karmella]

12:42 PM on 05/19/2012

I know how you feel. I'm not from Louisville, but when I was a young adult I explored greener pastures as well. It was the best decision that I ever made. Where ever you go, always have your eyes/ears wide open and trust your gut feelings. Good luck to you.

[JuniorBug]

05:59 PM on 05/17/2012

God bless America.

[Apennaround88]

08:26 AM on 05/18/2012

Amen!