In the early morning hours of August 27, 2023, a night of revelry at the Southern Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Louisville turned into a scene of tragedy. Colby Banks, a 35-year-old male, was among the crowd at the restaurant's 'last rodeo' event when gunfire erupted around 3 a.m., shattering the lively atmosphere. When the chaos subsided, Banks had been fatally wounded.
Another man, 37-year-old Terrance Bethel, also lost his life in the shooting, and five other individuals were left with injuries. At the time of the incident, it was estimated that between 200 and 300 people were in the area of the restaurant.
In the days that followed the shooting, the Louisville Metro Police Department began an investigation into the deadly incident. A significant break in the case came on August 30, when a man named Arthur Simson, 38, turned himself into the homicide division. Simson, who also goes by the last name Simpson, admitted to being the shooter captured on surveillance video from the scene. He informed detectives that he had been working as a security guard at the restaurant on the night of the shooting and surrendered the firearm he used.
Following his confession, Simson was arrested on September 15, 2023, and faced multiple charges, including two counts of murder for the deaths of Colby Banks and Terrance Bethel, as well as four counts of second-degree assault for the injuries sustained by the other victims. Despite the arrest and the detailed confession, law enforcement officials have indicated that the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
