By Vinny Porco

Two women are dead following an early-morning shooting Aug. 23 at U of L’s Family Scholar House.

According to an LMPD statement, 4th Division officers responded to the scene at around 1:44 a.m. in the 400 block of Reg Smith Circle along with ULPD.

The officers found two women with fatal injuries. LMPD says the women were pronounced dead on the scene by EMS, and reported that there are no known suspects.

A university-wide email sent by President Gerry Bradley and Provost Kathryn Cardarelli just before 8:00 a.m. told community members the two individuals were not students, faculty or staff at U of L.

The email also acknowledged that a suspect has not yet been apprehended.

“While we have no reason to believe there is a current threat to campus, the U of L community is asked to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior by calling U of L Police at (502) 852-6111,” they said.

The Family Scholar House, according the email, is a “U of L partnership organization at a non-university facility located near the edge of the university’s Belknap Campus.” The organization houses and provides assistance to student parents and their children.

ULPD Chief Bryan Luckett was reached by phone Sunday morning and told The Cardinal LMPD is now handling the investigation.

Timeline

A SafeZone alert was released at 2:05 a.m. on Sunday. The message told community members ULPD was responding to an incident at the location and instructed them to leave the area.

At 2:14 a.m., a Rave Alert was released saying shots were fired at the location. The alert instituted a “shelter in place” and said that a suspect fled towards W Shipp Avenue. At 2:15 a.m., the same message was sent out through the SafeZone alert system.

Community members were instructed to continue sheltering in place by an alert sent out using both systems at 3:25 a.m.

At 4:27 a.m., U of L’s Office of Communications and Marketing sent out a university-wide email reiterating the sitaution at Family Scholar House and telling community members to stay informed through the SafeZone app.

“This is a developing situation, and more information will be provided as it becomes known,” the email read. “We recognize that this is likely deeply unsettling for students, families and the campus community at large and are committed to providing transparency and support.”

The “shelter in place” was cleared at 4:52 a.m. via SafeZone, and the same message was released through Rave Alert four minutes later.

The Office of Communications and Marketing sent out another email addressing the situation at 7:58 a.m., this time addressed from President Bradley and Provost Cardarelli.

“Our hearts go out to the residents of Scholar House and their loved ones as they grieve and attempt to process this horrific violence,” they wrote.

Feature Photo by Samuel Dick / The Louisville Cardinal