A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the killing of 16-year-old Tyree Smith, who was shot Wednesday morning during a drive-by shooting at a school bus stop.
The money was raised by local clergy, said Corrie Shull, a Jefferson County school board member and pastor at Burnett Avenue Baptist Church.
“We’ve chosen to take this step as a means to draw the line,” he said, “and to say unequivocally that while we cannot rid our city entirely of the violence that is plaguing us, we will do all that is within our power to ensure that our children, every child in the city can at least stand at school bus stops safely. School bus stops should be safe zones, and every member of our community should respect them as such.”
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Louisville bus stop shooting live update:Jeep from shooting found on fire, police say
The shooting was reported about 6:30 a.m. at Dr. W.J. Hodge and West Chestnut streets in the Russell neighborhood. Louisville Metro Police said three Jefferson County Public Schools students were struck during the shooting.
Smith was later pronounced dead at University of Louisville Hospital. A 13-year-old boy was sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening-injuries, and a 14-year-old girl was grazed on the ankle and declined medical treatment.
“There are people who know who shot and killed (Smith) yesterday,” LMPD Chief Erika Shields said. “And those individuals need to step forward, and this space that we’re operating in of not snitching and not cooperating with police when homicides occur … we’re better than this.”
She added: “If money motivates people where conscience won’t, we’ll take it. Thank you for stepping forward.”
This story will be updated.
Contact Ayana Archie at aarchie@courier-journal.com or follow on Twitter @AyanaArchie. Support strong local journalism by subscribing to The Courier Journal.
