Kaliah Simone Graves was a bright star, a young woman described by her loved ones as being full of life, light, and love. Born on May 25, 2005, the 21-year-old was smart, kind, funny, and outgoing. Kaliah dedicated her life to helping others, working with compassion as a Patient Care Assistant at Jewish Hospital while studying to become a nurse at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Her family said caring for people wasn't just her job, it was who she was.
Kaliah was the beloved daughter of Cindy Gallivan and Patrick Alexander, a cherished granddaughter, and a devoted sister to five siblings. Her family remembered that her smile could light up a room and that she lived her life exactly as she wanted to, every single day.
In the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, October 24, 2026, Kaliah’s future was tragically cut short. Just before 5 a.m., Louisville Metro Police officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 2500 or 2600 block of Greenwood Avenue. The area is a mix of residential streets and local businesses in the California and Parkland neighborhoods of west Louisville. When officers arrived on the scene, they found Kaliah suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services provided aid before she was rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital. Despite medical efforts, Kaliah died from her injuries. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office later confirmed her identity.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. Within hours, around 10 a.m. on the same Saturday morning, LMPD’s Homicide Unit arrested 19-year-old Tyrone Reed in connection with Kaliah’s death. Police stated that all parties involved in the incident had been identified and accounted for. Reed was subsequently charged with murder and first-degree wanton endangerment. The specific circumstances that led to the shooting have not been publicly detailed by authorities.
Two days later, on Monday, October 26, Tyrone Reed appeared in court for his arraignment. He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. A judge set his bond at $500,000 cash. Reed was scheduled to return to court for a hearing on November 4, 2026. The case is now proceeding through the Jefferson County court system.
In the wake of her death, Kaliah’s family was left to mourn a devastating loss. They remembered her as an angel who touched the soul of everyone she met. She was remembered for fiercely loving her family and being surrounded by countless friends, each of whom was better for having known her. Her spirit, they said, will live on in everyone whose life she touched.
A visitation for friends and family to pay their respects was scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, at Pearson's Funeral Home in Louisville. As of late October 2026, the criminal case against the man accused of ending Kaliah's life was in its initial stages.
