Operations

Louisville police fatally shoot restaurant owner amid protests

June 2, 2020

Police shot and killed David McAtee, the owner of YaYa's BBQ in Louisville, early Monday, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. State and local police are investigating the death.

Odessa Riley, McAtee's mother, said her son was a "community pillar."

"He left a great legend behind," she told USA Today. "He was a good person. Everybody around him would say that. My son didn't hurt nobody. He didn't do nothing to nobody."

Riley was one of the hundreds who were protesting on the corner of 26th and Broadway on Monday, and police and National Guard were there to break up a large crowd in a parking lot, according to law enforcement officials.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear attributed the killing to the Louisville Metro Police Department and the National Guard. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said police officers had not activated their body cameras, which was a violation of policy and lead to the firing of Police Chief Steve Conrad. The two officers involved in the shooting have been put on administrative leave.

Community members said McAtee would often give away free food to those in need and had served police during the protests. 

Statement from Governor Andy Beshear: pic.twitter.com/MyHxcE3Ntn

— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) June 1, 2020
 

"He was one of the ones who would donate all his time and all his food; everybody could just come up and take it and he wouldn't charge because it was for the neighborhood." David McAtee, owner of Ya Ya's BBQ Louisville,was shot during protest Sunday night https://t.co/5p4zwHZOdW pic.twitter.com/TjVsORir2Q

— Earth Eats (@eartheats) June 2, 2020