Man is shot dead at Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville after gunman fires on demonstrators in Jefferson Square Park in the city - sparking panic among protesters

A man has been shot dead at a Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville after a white man opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in a crowded park, according to local police. 

At least two people were shot - one fatally - in the incident at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, at around 9 p.m. Saturday. 

Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies performed life-saving measures on an unidentified male victim but he died at the scene.  

The shooting took place at the park that has become a focal point for the city's protests demanding justice for Taylor, the black EMT who was gunned down by cops in her apartment back in March.

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LOUISVILLE: A man has been shot dead at a Breonna Taylor protest in Louisville after a white man opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in a crowded park (pictured)

Disturbing footage on social media shows the moment the shooter aims his gun at the masses of people peacefully protesting and fires multiple shots.

Screams can be heard as people scramble for cover from the hail of bullets. 

The footage later shows people rushing to assist one person who is seen lying in a pool of blood on the ground. 

Louisville Metro Police Department released a statement confirming that there were reports of shots fired in the park at around 9 p.m. and that authorities tried to save one man who died at the scene.

Officers then received a report of another shooting victim at the Hall of Justice.

The second victim was taken to University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said. 

The park was cleared and will remain closed for several hours while officers carry out an investigation into the shooting.

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LOUISVILLE: At least two people were shot - one fatally - in the incident at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, at around 9 p.m. Saturday

LOUISVILLE: The park is seen taped off later that night after the shooting that left one dead and another injured 

Police 'are trying to gather as much information as possible in order to identify all who were involved in the incident,' the statement said. 

No further information about the gunman, victims' identities or whether any arrests have been made was released. 

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said he was 'deeply saddened' by the incident. 

'I am deeply saddened by the violence that erupted in Jefferson Square Park tonight, where those who have been voicing their concerns have been gathered,' Fischer said in a statement. 

'It is a tragedy that this area of peaceful protest is now a crime scene.'

This marks at least the second shooting in the last month during protests in Louisville over Taylor's death. 

On May 28, seven people were shot in a shooting near City Hall.

Taylor's mother broke her silence over the violence then urged people to stop 'hurting each other' amid demands for justice over her daughter's slaying. 

Taylor, 26, was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a botched no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13.

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Breonna Taylor (pictured) was shot eight times and killed when three plain clothes officers performed a no-knock arrest warrant at her apartment in Louisville on March 13

The three officers said they were investigating drugs offenses and that Taylor's boyfriend opened fire on them when they entered.

Her family say neither she - a hardworking EMT - nor her boyfriend used drugs and that he fired his gun because he thought the three plain clothes officers were intruders. 

This week Louisville police fired one of the cops involved in her death saying he showed 'extreme indifference to the value of human life' when he 'blindly fired 10 rounds' into her apartment.

Officer Brett Hankison, 44, was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in her killing, where he violated the department's regulations and deadly force standards, Louisville Metro Police announced. 

Hankison said he was appealing the decision, as his attorney blasted his firing as 'a cowardly political act'.

Officer Brett Hankison was fired Tuesday from the department for his part in the killing of black EMT Taylor, 26, Louisville Metro Police announced 

Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly (left) and Officer Myles Cosgrove (right) are the other two cops involved in the killing of the black woman. Neither of them have been fired

The Kentucky Attorney General is still yet to decide whether to bring charges against any of the three cops three months on from Taylor's slaying and the other two cops involved - Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrave - have not been fired.  

Last week, FBI agents searched Taylor's home for evidence as part of their revived investigation. 

Louisville PD has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of the case. 

Earlier in the month, the force released a heavily redacted incident report which said Taylor had no injuries despite her having been shot eight times and killed in the raid.  

The family has accused the city of deliberately ignoring subpoenas for records relating to her death that were requested as part of a lawsuit filed by the victim's mother, Tamika Palmer, back in April. 

Taylor's death has sparked outrage across America. 

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NEW YORK: Hundreds of Black Lives Matter protesters congregate at the City Hall in New York as part of the 'Defund NYPD' and 'Occupy City Hall' movement

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NEW YORK: In New York, hundreds of protesters camped outside City Hall Saturday night demanding lawmakers slash the New York City police budget by $1billion

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NEW YORK: The demonstrators are demanding the New York City Council City Council cut at least $1 billion from the police department's current $6 billion budget when it begins considering a new city budget

Anger over her death was ignited further following the death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis on Memorial Day at the hands of a white cop. 

Protesters have been taking to the streets of the nation demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism, and calls are mounting for widespread police reform.  

In New York, hundreds of protesters camped outside City Hall Saturday night demanding lawmakers slash the New York City police budget by $1billion.

The 'Occupy City Hall' encampment began forming Tuesday following weeks of street protests over the death of Floyd and other black Americans killed by cops.  

The demonstrators are demanding the New York City Council City Council cut at least $1 billion from the police department's current $6 billion budget when it begins considering a new city budget. 

According to NY1, protesters have designated the area police free, and say officers have been keeping their distance. 

The encampment was told it is allowed to remain a protest zone as long as no structures were set up, the New York Post reported.  

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PORTLAND: In Portland, Oregon, protesters have been trying to establish an autonomous zone outside the North police precinct

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PORTLAND: Saturday marked the 31st night of protests and reports of clashes between protesters and cops continued

Organizers have called it 'Occupy City Hall' - a nod to the 2010 Occupy Wall Street movement a few blocks away in Zuccotti Park.

Meanwhile over in Portland, Oregon, protesters have been trying to establish an autonomous zone outside the North police precinct. 

Scenes descended into chaos Friday night on the one-month anniversary of Floyd's death with stores looted and fires set in the area.  

Saturday marked the 31st night of protests and reports of clashes between protesters and cops continued.  

According to reports on social media, officers deployed shot pepper balls at protesters and tear gas was used to disperse crowds as Portland Police put out a statement that riot control agents were being used at around 1:30 a.m. and told people 'you are ordered to disperse immediately'. 

Reports also surfaced that a car had been driven into protesters in the area.