Redaja Williams Obituary, Death – The family of a Louisville woman has come forward to identify her as the victim of a deadly shooting that took place Wednesday morning while she was walking her young daughter to a bus stop. Relatives say the victim was 23-year-old Redaja Williams, affectionately known to friends as “Juicy.”
The shooting happened around 8 a.m. near the intersection of 10th Street and West Chestnut Street, an area that was filled with children waiting for school buses at the time. According to officials, the scene was chaotic, with many young students present when gunfire erupted. Williams was struck and killed before emergency responders could save her.
As of Thursday, the suspect in her killing remained at large. Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) investigators have released only a limited description of the shooter, identifying him as a young Black male wearing a red hoodie and black sweatpants. No further details about a possible motive or circumstances surrounding the shooting have been made public.
This was not the first time in recent days that the neighborhood had been shaken by gun violence. Just a week earlier—on the first day of school for Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS)—there had been a shootout in the same location. In that earlier incident, two 15-year-olds were arrested and are now facing 34 criminal charges in connection with the gunfire.
In response to the first shooting, LMPD increased patrols in the area to enhance safety for students and residents. However, those extra patrols were reportedly discontinued the same day that Williams was killed. The decision has raised concerns among residents, who fear ongoing violence near a location where children regularly gather.
On Thursday morning, following Williams’ death, police were once again stationed in the neighborhood as school buses arrived and children boarded. Officers maintained a visible presence to reassure parents and deter further violence.
The loss of Williams has devastated her family and friends, who remember her as a vibrant young woman and a loving mother. The fact that she was killed while performing the simple act of walking her child to school has left the community outraged and fearful. Many residents are calling for more consistent police presence and stronger measures to address the ongoing problem of youth violence in the area.
LMPD is urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, stressing that community cooperation is essential in solving the case. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, speaking with witnesses, and gathering forensic evidence in hopes of identifying the suspect and bringing him to justice.
The investigation remains active, and authorities are expected to release updates as new details emerge. For now, the community is left to grieve the loss of a young mother while grappling with the troubling reality that two violent incidents have occurred in the same location within a single week, both with children present.
