LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — After a Friday morning shooting at Waterfront Park left a man dead near a children’s play area, community members say they want change.
Officers responded to the kids’ water park area shortly after 3 a.m., where they found a man with multiple gunshot wounds.
The fatal shooting happened at Waterfront Park on Friday, March 20, 2026. (WDRB photo)
“As a whole, we have to do better. And people have to want more,” said William Wright.
During the day, the park fills with children and laughter echoes across the green space. But at 3 a.m. Friday, gunfire shattered that calm, leaving a man dead.
The incident left Wright struggling for words.
“I don’t, I don’t know. It just, it just makes you wonder why people think that it’s OK to do this kind of stuff, you know? I’m not sure, but I don’t know,” he said.
According to Louisville Metro Police, officers found the man with multiple gunshot wounds in the children’s water park area. They transported him to University of Louisville Hospital, where he later died.
Mayor Craig Greenberg said LMPD has officers assigned to the area at different times of the day.
“This happened when nobody was there, but we were able to respond quickly. Unfortunately, it’s too late in this case,” Greenberg said Friday.
The city is working with the police department to explore ways to improve safety near the Big Four Bridge and the park.
LMPD said it will share details about those changes in the coming weeks.
“There’s too many areas where this kind of stuff is going on at. Between Bardstown Road, downtown here, down at the Waterfront, it’s almost like they just migrate,” Wright said.
Residents like Duff Griffen say they take precautions when visiting.
“I would definitely pick and choose the time,” Griffen said. “I would come down with my family. In the evenings, when you’ve got special events, I think you feel a little bit more comfortable.”
Even with caution, Wright said people can still end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. He believes the city may need stronger measures, such as curfews. For him, doing nothing is not an option.
WDRB asked Wright whether closing certain areas after specific hours could help.
“If people keep doing the stuff that they’re doing? You know, absolutely,” he said. “We can’t keep allowing that, this kind of stuff to happen. And if people don’t like the idea of stuff like that, then another option is to stop the nonsense. You know? That’s another option as well. Is to cut it out.”
LMPD’s Homicide Unit is investigating the shooting but has not identified any suspects or made any arrests.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call LMPD’s anonymous Crime Tip Line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673).
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