On the morning of September 22, 2021, 16-year-old Tyree Smith was shot while waiting for the school bus at the corner of Dr. W.J. Hodge and West Chestnut streets in Louisville, Kentucky. A car drove past and someone inside opened fire on the group of students; Tyree was struck in the abdomen and flank, taken to a local hospital, and died. Two other students — a 13-year-old boy with non-life-threatening injuries and a 14-year-old girl grazed by a bullet — were hurt in the same attack. Prosecutors later said Tyree was not the intended target.

Tyree was a student at Eastern High School; his family described him as loving, innocent, and caring, focused on school and work. Records show that weeks before his killing another shooting occurred at that same bus stop and students, including Tyree’s younger sister, had reported the incident and other threats to school and police. His mother, Sherita Smith, filed a lawsuit against the school district alleging officials failed to act.

In December 2021 police arrested two 16-year-olds, Mekhi Cable and Demaurion Moore, who were indicted on charges including murder, assault, and wanton endangerment; authorities said both would be tried as adults. Both young men were later convicted for Tyree’s murder.

Did anyone who waited at that bus stop know about the earlier threats or see anything on the morning Tyree was killed?