Louisville businessman gives $50,000 to Ellis reward fund, $10,000 to family fund

OFFICER JASON ELLIS

Thursday, May 30, 2013, 8:45 a.m. — The owner of a Louisville lending company who was touched by the loss of Bardstown Officer Jason Ellis came forward Thursday to donate money that more than doubled the Officer Jason Ellis reward fund.

Gus A. Goldsmith, owner of Louisville lending company Action Loan, announced Thursday morning he was donating $50,000 to the reward fund.

“I’m here to increases the reward money by $50,000 to the person who gives information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever killed Officer Ellis,” he explained. “I’m sure someone out there knows something, and this might help bring someone to the table,” Goldsmith said at press conference.

Goldsmith explained how 38 years ago, his brother was killed in a robbery at their business. The murder remains unsolved.

“I feel if someone at the time had offered a significant reward his murder could have been solved,” he said. “I heard about this on the radio going to work yesterday, and I called the chief to ask about doing this.”

Goldsmith’s donation pushes the reward fund over $100,000. Judge Executive Dean Watts and Nelson Fiscal Court have also agreed to donate $10,000 to the reward fund.

Goldsmith is also donating $10,000 to Officer Ellis’ memorial fund to help his family.

“I thought the money might help jump start that fund,” he said. “I know it takes a lot to raise two kids.”

BACKGROUND. In December of 1974, Gus Goldsmith’s brother Martin was killed when armed gunmen opened fire inside the family’s pawn shop, located at the time at 18th and Broadway in Louisville.

Goldsmith was in the business when the robbery happened.

“Without asking any questions all they did was started shooting and my brother was killed and a couple of us was shot,” Goldsmith told WDRB TV in an interview four years ago regarding his brother’s murder.

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