Breonna Taylor protest leader, 21, is shot dead 'during carjacking' near University of Louisville campus
A 21-year-old Louisville man who became a fixture at protests over the police killing of Breonna Taylor was fatally shot during a suspected carjacking early Monday.
Hamza 'Travis' Nagdy was often seen leading protest marches with a megaphone to draw attention to Taylor's death and call for police reform.
Nagdy was killed in a shooting near the University of Louisville campus, the Courier Journal reported. Police have released few details about the shooting.
The incident took place shortly before 12.30am on Crittenden Drive. Nagdy's mother, Christine Muimneach, said on Facebook that her 'Beautiful and Intelligent son' has been killed in a carjacking.
Louisville Black Lives Matter activist Hamza 'Travis' Nagdy, 21, was shot and killed near the Univerdity of Louisville early Monday morning
Nagdy's mother said in a Facebook post her son was killed during a carjacking. The 21-year-old was said to have been shot multiple times
Taylor's mother, Tamika Palmer, mourned Nagdy's death on Twitter, calling him 'amazing' and a 'beautiful soul'
Nagdy was pronounced dead at University of Louisville Hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds.
Nagdy, who said he spent time in foster care and in jail as a youth, drew hope from the protest movement. Many of the demonstrations originated in a downtown park near the city's courthouse, where Nagdy was often found.
'It makes me feel good that I can come out here and it doesn’t matter where you came from, it doesn’t matter what happened previously in your life,' he told The Associated Press in September. 'You’re here right now, you’re in this movement.'
Antonio T-Made Taylor, a friend and mentor to Nagdy, called him irreplaceable.
'Travis really believed he could help change systemic racism,' Taylor said. 'He believed he could be a big part of that change.
Nagdy, who spent time in foster care and in jail as a youth, was a fixture at protests over the police killing of Breonna Taylor
Travis Nagdy speaks at a press conference, advocating for Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell to drop all charges against protesters
'If you ever needed to see hope in a young man, you could look at Travis and see it. ... He was inspiring, he was insightful, he was encouraging. He was so willing to learn. He was just a beacon of hope. Him and his megaphone.'
As news of Nagdy's death spread, Tamika Palmer, Breonna's mother, went on Twitter to mourn his death.
'RIp Travis you were amazing and I was honored to have you standing for Bre...' she wrote. 'Another beautiful soul lost as we continue to fight for justice.'
Several prominent community organizers and leaders also took to social media on Monday to pay tribute to Nagdy.
'We’ve suffered a great loss,' tweeted state Rep Charles Booker, a Democrat. 'Travis Nagdy, a young leader committed to the fight for justice, is gone. As we marched for Breonna Taylor, it was often Travis and his megaphone leading the way. A bullet took his breath, but we still hear his voice. Rest in Power, young Brother.'
Shameka Parrish-Brown, a well-known activist and site manager for the national Bail Project, described Nagdy as a 'natural born leader' and lamented his untimely death.
'We lost a great one,' she tweeted. 'This whole time I & we been out here for our young people like Travis Nagdy. We have become a family & all that comes with it!'
By Monday afternoon, dozens of supporters gathered at the scene of Nagdy's killing and at Jefferson Square, which has been the epicenter of Black Lives Matter protests, to mourn the young activist's loss, reported WLKY.
'Even in the midst of marches and demonstrations where you get tired, his infectious energy is what really pushed so many of the actions that we've seen in Louisville,' said Pastor Tim Findley Jr, a fellow activist and friend of Nagdy's.
Nagdy's sister has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking donations to help pay for his funeral
Meanwhile, Nagdy's sister, Sarah, has launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking donations to pay for his funeral.
'He was an avid activist for Black Lives Matter. He was an inspirational leader. We are poor and can not afford any money at all for his funeral. Our mother lives on disability and I just lost my job due to covid,' the description of the fundraiser states.
As of Monday evening, no suspects have been identified in connection to Nagdy's shooting death.
No comments