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Alleged grocery store gunman had violent past, possible racial motives, mental health struggles
Gregory Bush, charged with the murder of two people at a Kentucky grocery store, had a violent background and possible racial motives. (Image source: WHAS-TV video screenshot)

Alleged grocery store gunman had violent past, possible racial motives, mental health struggles

The man who is charged with the murder of two people in a Kentucky grocery store had a violent past, and possibly had racial motives behind the killings, according to WAVE-TV in Louisville.

Gregory Alan Bush, a 51-year-old white male, allegedly walked into a Kroger in Jeffersontown, Kentucky, on Wednesday afternoon and fatally shot 69-year-old Maurice Stallard, then walked outside and shot 67-year-old Vicki Lee Jones in the parking lot.

Past arrests

Bush was arrested and charged in 2003 for following a 15-year-old girl into the bathroom of a movie theater and putting his hands around her waist.

In 2009, he was charged with assault and resisting arrest for punching a police deputy who was trying to subdue Bush during a verbal altercation with his wife.

Mental illness?

According to Bush's Facebook account, he may have suffered from schizophrenia.

"I have worked most of my life and battled mental illness throughout my life," Bush wrote. "My paranoid-schizophrenia finally stopped me from working and now am on mental disability. I'm lucky I made it this far with all the trouble I've caused myself when I get off my medicine."

According to NBC News, police are working to determine how he got the gun, and whether he was allowed to own one.

Racial motives?

According to The Associated Press, Ed Harrell was in the Kroger parking lot when the killings occurred. He reportedly grabbed his gun once he heard shots from inside the store.

Harrell said Bush walked by him in the parking lot and said "Don't shoot me. I won't shoot you. Whites don't shoot whites."

Jeffersontown Police Chief Sam Rogers said Bush was seen attempting to enter First Baptist Church, a predominantly black congregation, 10 to 15 minutes before the Kroger shooting.

Bush is white, and his two victims were black.

Armed bystander tried to stop Bush

Bush reportedly walked in the Kroger at about 2 p.m. He shot Stallard in the back of the head, and then shot him several times on the floor.

After he shot Jones in the parking lot, an armed citizen opened fire on Bush. Bush was able to get into his car and attempted to drive away before being apprehended by police.

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