In the busy atmosphere of a Roosters restaurant on Preston Highway in Louisville, Kentucky, a violent altercation abruptly ended the lives of two men on the evening of December 23, 2021. Bradley Cross, a 51-year-old man from Shepherdsville, was one of the victims who tragically lost his life that night. The incident, which took place in a crowded dining room, stemmed from a fistfight that escalated to gunfire.
According to police reports and witness accounts, a dispute broke out between
Michael Miller, 48, and another man, later identified as 21-year-old Karson Reitz. The confrontation turned deadly when Reitz allegedly produced a firearm and shot both Miller and Cross. Miller was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Cross was critically injured and rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Law enforcement officers quickly identified Karson Reitz as the suspected shooter based on the restaurant's security footage. He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. The investigation revealed that Reitz was acquainted with both victims, though a specific motive for the shooting has not been publicly detailed. Court documents indicated that Reitz admitted to the police that he shot both men.
Following his arrest, Karson Reitz pleaded not guilty to the charges. In February 2025, a jury found Reitz guilty, and he was subsequently sentenced to 17 years in prison for his role in the deaths of Bradley Cross and Michael Miller. The family of Bradley Cross has also filed a lawsuit against the Roosters restaurant, alleging that the establishment failed to provide adequate security to prevent the foreseeable tragedy.
