LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A devastating wave of violence struck Louisville on Wednesday, leaving two young mothers dead in separate shootings that unfolded just hours apart in different neighborhoods of the city.

The first tragedy occurred early Wednesday morning near a Jefferson County Public Schools bus stop in the 4100 block of West Broadway. Police said Redaja “Juicy” Williams, 23, was walking her 7-year-old daughter to catch the school bus when gunfire erupted around 8 a.m. Williams was struck by the bullets and collapsed near the bus stop as children and parents scattered for safety.

Authorities later confirmed that Williams was the intended target of the shooting. Surveillance evidence suggested that the shooter deliberately aimed at her from a distance while dozens of children stood nearby. A suspect, described as a young Black male wearing a red hoodie and black sweatpants, fled the scene and remains at large. Police initially detained a 15-year-old boy connected to another shootout in the area, but later determined he was not responsible for Williams’ killing.

Williams, the mother of two young children, died from her injuries after being rushed to the hospital. Her death has sent shockwaves through the community, with city leaders condemning the act as “absolutely heartless” and calling for witnesses to come forward.

Later that evening, another life was cut short in Louisville’s Chickasaw neighborhood. Around 9 p.m., police responded to reports of gunfire in a parking lot and found 28-year-old Jermia Offutt, also known by her nickname Jayy Lashaee, suffering from a gunshot wound. She was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

Investigators believe Offutt, who was four months pregnant and already a mother of three, was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a dispute between two groups. Police emphasized that she had no involvement in the altercation.

The back-to-back killings have left families devastated and the city reeling. “This should not be happening. These senseless acts of violence are crippling our families and our neighborhoods,” one community member wrote in response.

Both cases remain under investigation. Police are urging anyone with information to call the LMPD Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD, where tips can be made anonymously.

For now, Louisville mourns the loss of two young mothers whose lives were stolen within a single day, leaving behind grieving children, families, and a community desperate for answers.