7 shot during at Louisville protests Thursday night

Protests across the country have turned violent this week and riots have broken out, as citizens turn on the police while mourning Breonna Taylor and George Floyd

By Sophie Mann

Published: May 29, 2020 9:15am

Updated: May 29, 2020 1:51pm

Seven people were shot overnight in Louisville, Kentucky, as protests related to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd turned violent. One victim is said to be in critical condition.

Police officers were reportedly not involved in the shootings, according to Police Sgt. Lamont Washington.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said that the shots were fired from within the crowd.

Hundreds gathered on Thursday evening to protest the death of Breonna Taylor, a young woman who was killed by Louisville police at her home in March.

Though the protests began peacefully, they soon escalated – private property was damaged and bottles were thrown at police officers.

The protestors chanted "Whose streets? Our streets!" and later, Mayor Fischer shared a video from Taylor's family, which thanked the protestors for coming out and encouraged them to remain safe.

"Louisville, thank you so much for saying Breonna's name tonight. We are not going to stop until we get justice. But we should stop tonight before people get hurt. Please go home, be safe, and be ready to keep fighting," said Taylor's family member on screen.