Update: Back in October of 2018 a white supremacist walked into a Kruger grocery store in Jeffersontown, Kentucky and shot an African American man in the back of the head in front of his grandson. He then went out to the parking lot and shot an African American woman who was leaving. Confronted by a bystander who also had a weapon, he reportedly said, “whites don’t kill whites.” The supremacist name is Gregory Bush. Well it’s been a little bit over a year and the courts have finally found Bush competent to stand trial. In May of this year a doctor who evaluated Bush said he would likely gain competency in the future and he has. Members of the Jones and Stallard family attended the hearing. Before he began shooting at the Kroger, authorities said he also attempted to enter the predominantly black First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown. He has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and attempted murder. In addition he has been charged with three counts of violating federal hate crime laws. The penalty for conviction under the federal hate crime laws can be as severe as life in prison without parole or death by lethal injection. No date has been set for the trial. According to the “Intelligencer, “The murder of black seniors is a relatively rare phenomenon in the U.S. People over 65 accounted for just 2 percent of black homicide victims in 2014, according to a 2017 Violence Policy Center report, citing that year as the most recent for which data was available. Yet they have been central victims in recent racist killings. From Charleston to New York City and, now, possibly Louisville, some of the 21st century’s most notorious white supremacists have targeted black seniors for violent deaths. The unique cruelty of this pattern magnifies its obvious illogic, demonstrating yet again that white rhetoric framing black people as threats is shallow cover for terrorizing the vulnerable.” Below is a reprint of our article from October 31, 2018.
Today as I was going through my Facebook news feeds, I came across a very disturbing meme which is pictured above. I believe President Obama contacted the families privately. The families have gone through enough without being harassed by every white supremacist in Kentucky who has had a few beers and wants to tell the boys about how he called the “nigg@$” to let them know they might be next. President Obama is protecting them by not using their grief for political gain and although his reputation may suffer, he’s given the family something no one else has given them… a sincere and heartfelt message from the “President.” Now lets talk about Vickie Lee Jones and Maurice E. Stallard.
Vickie Lee Jones, 67, and Maurice E. Stallard 69, both African-American, were shot and killed last week at a Kroger grocery store in Jeffersontown by a white supremacist. Maurice Stallard was killed first. He was in the store with his grandson when white supremacist Gregory Bush “allegedly” pulled a weapon from his pants and shot him in the back of the head. After killing him, Bush stood over the body and fired several more shots into him as he lay on the ground. He then put his gun back into his pants and ran out he store where he encountered Vickie Jones. She was in the parking lot when Bush approached her and “allegedly” began firing his weapon, killing her. According to reports another shopper with a weapon confronted Bush, which set off a fire fight in the parking lot. Neither man was injured. There are reports that Bush allegedly told the man shooting at him that “whites don’t kill whites,” according to a witness at the scene. Before the white supremacist went to the Kroger supermarket, he allegedly tried to enter a predominantly black church nearby. Luckily the doors were secured and the parishioners would not let him in. Surveillance video had recorded Mr. Bush’s unsuccessful attempt to enter the nearby First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown shortly before the attack. Billy Williams, the church administrator, said eight to 10 people were inside the church when Mr. Bush arrived after a midweek service. A church member in the parking lot grew alarmed when she saw him aggressively pulling on the historic church’s front doors. Mr. Bush drove away after less than 10 minutes. Authorities are investigating the murders as a hate crime.
Maurice Stallard was a military veteran and retired from General Electric. On the day he was killed, he was taking his grandson to buy poster board for a school project. He was describe by those who knew him as warm and loving. He had moved his family to suburban Jefferson so that they could enjoy a middle class life. Stallard’s family has declined any comments since his murder, but according to a close acquaintance in Jeffersontown’s tight-knit black community, he was known as a warm, easy-going man who always greeted people with a hug. “It’s complete sorrow in our community right now. He’s the same age as my parents and his kids are my age, so we all experienced a rite of passage together growing up. Mr. Stallard looks just like my dad, and many times my nephew walks with my dad in that Kroger… my parents go to that store… it’s their store.” Maurice Stallard was buried Monday.
Vickie Lee Jones retired from the Veterans Affairs hospital, where she worked as an office administrator. Jones went to Western Kentucky University, where she met her future husband, George Jones, who died of cancer in 2010. She left behind two sons, Sean and Marcus, and multiple grandchildren. Her nephew, Kevin Gunn, said she loved to travel and was a faithful member of the Church of the Living God nearby. Sadiqa Reynolds, president and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, who knew Jones, broke into tears when she found out about her death from a reporter. The family had just buried Jones’ brother, but he died after a long illness and that her death was harder to take because it was so senseless. Gunn said that his aunt had recently surprised him when she showed up at a ceremony where he received a master’s degree in public administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. “It was a nice moment. Life is not going to be the same.” Vickie Lee Jones memorial was held this past Saturday.
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