Police: Restauranteur Fired Gun in Monday Incident

Louisville police say video shows that a popular barbecue shack operator fatally shot Monday while police and National Guard soldiers were enforcing a curfew fired a gun as officers approached his business. 

The city has been hit by waves of protests, but witnesses say the crowd at the restaurant had nothing to do with protests. 

The video showing David McAtee opening fire was obtained from security cameras at McAtee’s business and an adjoining business. 

Acting police Chief Robert Schroeder made the announcement Tuesday. He says it shows McAtee shooting while officers were trying to clear people from a parking lot. 

“This video does not provide all the answers. But we are releasing it to provide transparency. It does not answer every question, including why did he fire and where were police at the time he fired,” Schroeder said.

The protests have centered on the death of Breonna Taylor, a black woman killed in her Louisville home in March as narcotics detectives serving a search warrant knocked down her door. No drugs were found. Protesters have also demanded justice for George Floyd, who was pinned down by his neck by a Minneapolis police officer, and died May 25 after being taken into custody.

Mayor Greg Fischer fired the police chief Monday after finding out officers did not turn on their body-worn cameras. State police and the U.S. attorney also are investigating.

McAtee was a 53-year-old African American man who was known for offering free meals to officers who stopped by his restaurant.

Governor Andy Beshear commented on the investigation Tuesday, saying he authorized the Kentucky State Police’s Critical Incident Response Team to quickly investigate McAtee’s death.

J. Michael Brown, secretary for the Governor’s Executive Cabinet, said preliminary autopsy results indicate that McAtee died from what appears to be a single gunshot wound to the chest. Further testing is being conducted to determine what type of bullet it was.

“It is our belief at this time that approximately 18 shots were fired between the Kentucky National Guard and the Louisville Metro Police that evening. Those weapons are also in our custody for further testing, and they will be tested for DNA and any other things we can get from them,” Brown added.

He said that the goal is to get all the facts, get them quickly and be able to present a clear determination of what happened shortly after midnight on June 1.

Beshear added, "Our commitment is the truth, no matter what that truth is – good, bad, ugly – our commitment is the truth. That’s what the people of Kentucky deserve. That’s what the families involved in this deserve. And that’s what we’re going to ensure happens.”