Do you know who murdered Toreze Bland? In the Shawnee neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, a 22-year-old Black male named Toreze Lamont 'Red' Bland was fatally shot on Friday, December 11, 2015. The incident occurred in front of an apartment complex on Elliott Avenue, between 43rd and 44th Streets, where witnesses reported hearing as many as six gunshots. This violent act added another layer of tragedy to the Bland family, who had experienced profound loss due to gun violence in the years prior.
Toreze's death was a
devastating blow to his father, Craig Bland Sr., and his sister, Shauna Fischer. The family had previously buried Toreze's older brother, Craig Bland Jr., who was also a victim of a shooting in May 2012. The cycle of violence had also claimed the lives of two of their cousins, James and Mike Bland, within the preceding decade. The repeated losses left the family in a constant state of grief, struggling to cope with the immense and unending sorrow. In the wake of Toreze's death, his loved ones gathered at the scene, spelling out his nickname 'Red' in candles and setting up a cross with his pictures to honor his memory.
The Louisville Metro Police Department investigated the shooting of Toreze Bland, but no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the incident. The case was listed among the open homicides for 2015. Community activist Christopher 2X spoke on behalf of the family, highlighting the profound impact of the recurring violence on their lives. Amidst his grief, Craig Bland Sr. made a public plea for peace, urging the community not to seek retaliation for his son's death and to allow the justice system to run its course, hoping to prevent further bloodshed and sorrow.
