Black Teen Arrested for Murder of White Co-Worker

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January 11, 2014

A teenager who was taken into custody Friday on robbery charges is now charged with the murder of a Saint Matthews Kroger employee.

During a press conference held Friday night Saint Matthews Police Department Officer Dennis McDonald said Aaron Cross, 18, had been charged with the murder of Jack Combs, 34.

McDonald said Cross, who attended Waggener Traditional High School, and Combs were co-workers at the Kroger on Hubbards Lane where Cross worked as a bagger for two years.

Combs was shot in the chest while walking to his car in a parking lot around 10 p.m. on November 23, 2013. Another employee found Combs in front of the store where he had collapsed. He was rushed to Baptist Hospital East where he was pronounced dead.

According to McDonald Cross was at work the night of the murder and had been a suspect since the murder occurred.

Police said there was no indication Cross and Combs were in any type of altercation prior to Combs murder and believe the motive behind his death was robbery.

Cross was already booked into Louisville Metro Corrections facing robbery charges when murder charges were filed against him. According to an arrest report, around 10:20 p.m. January 9 Cross allegedly went into Gilmore Liquors displayed a gun, demanded money and then fled, which led to his arrest.

McDonald said officers believe the motive behind Combs murder was robbery. Police are continuing to investigate Combs murder. Officers believe there may be more suspects and are not ruling out the possibility of other Kroger employees being involved. A $30,000 reward for information concerning Combs murder still stands.

At 1:08 a.m. Saturday Kroger Public Affairs Manager Tim McGurk released the following statement;

“The entire Kroger family remains saddened by the loss of our co-worker, Jack Combs. We have been working closely with the St. Matthew’s police department and providing information to assist with their investigation. This is clearly a police matter and Kroger will have no further comment on what is an ongoing investigation. Kroger expresses our appreciation to the St. Matthew’s police department, and to the community for its outpouring of support.”

Cross is scheduled to be arraigned Saturday, January 11 at 9 a.m.