'Whites Don't Kill Whites,' Kroger Shooter Told Bystander: Report

LOUISVILLE, KY — The gunman who shot two black people to death at a Jeffersontown Kroger store repeortedly told an armed bystander that "Whites don't kill whites," and moved on. Authorities identifed Gregory Bush, 51, as Wednesday's shooter and booked him into jail on a pair of murder charges, where he remains held on $5 million bond.

Bush walked into the store off Taylorsville Road and opened fire on a man inside, killling him, police said, then shot a woman to death in the parking lot. He was later apprehended following a shootout with an armed bystander, police chief Sam Rogers told media outlets. No one was hurt in that exchange.

The victims were identified as Vicki Jones, 67, and 69-year-old Maurice Stallard, whose daughter, Kellie Watson, works for Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer as the city's top equity officer, The New York Times reported.

While police haven't said anythign about a possible motive, Steve Zinninger told Wave 3 News that his mother was in the back of the store as his father was outside. His father pulled a gun on the gunman at one point, and said he wouldn't shoot if the gunman didn't either.

"[The shooter] was like 'Whites don't kill whites,'" Zinninger said. The gunman moved on.

Police Chief Sam Rogers said he did not directly know what the suspect has said, The Times reported.

A spokeswoman for Kroger said in a statement the company was "shocked and "saddened" by the shooting. The store will remain closed until the investigation ends.

"Thanks to the quick response of the local police department, the suspect was apprehended and our store is secure," the statement said. Kroger is working with law enforcement officials and assisting in the investigation.

Just talked to a man who is an EMT and was shopping and he saw two people shooting at each other and says an elderly woman was caught in the crossfire . He tried to do CPR on her, but says she died. @WDRBNews pic.twitter.com/H9SNqBVq7I
— Valerie Chinn WDRB (@ValerieChinn) October 24, 2018

Photo credit: Lousiville Metro Department of Corrections