A Kentucky police officer involved in the fatal shooting of a black business owner mocked demonstrators days earlier on Facebook, according to a report.
Louisville Police Officer Katie Crews — who was put on administrative leave after returning fire early Monday on a large crowd during protests over the police-involved deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, killing David McAtee — shared her thoughts on demonstrators days prior to the deadly shooting, the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
Crews posted a photo Thursday of a female protester offering her flowers as she stood watch in Louisville while city residents demanded change in the aftermath of Taylor’s death in March, the newspaper reports.
“She was saying and doing a lot more than ‘offering flowers’ to me,” Crews wrote, according to screenshots circulating online. “Just so for it to be known. For anyone that knows me and knows that my facial expression tells everything.”
Crews’ post continued: “P.S. I hope the pepper balls that she got lit up with a little later on hurt … Come back and get ya some more ole girl, I’ll be on the line again tonight.”
Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said two Louisville officers, including Crews, and two National Guard soldiers returned fire on a crowd early Monday, killing McAtee, 53, who owned YaYa’s BBQ Shack near where the shooting occurred.
Schroeder, who took over the department after Police Chief Steve Conrad was fired because the cops didn’t activate their body cameras, is aware of the post and has launched an investigation into the matter, the Courier-Journal reports.
Crews, who joined the department two years ago, does not have any disciplinary infractions in that span, the newspaper reports, citing police officials.
The other officer involved in McAtee’s shooting death was identified as Austin Allen, who has also been placed on administrative leave, WAVE reports.
Investigators from the FBI, Kentucky State Police and the US Attorney’s Office will assist in a probe of McAtee’s death, WLKY reports.
With Post wires