At least five people were killed and nine others were injured when a shooter opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, according to authorities. One of the victims was a close friend of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Connor Sturgeon, 25, was the shooter; according to authorities, he worked at the Old National Bank on East Main Street, where the shooting started at 8:38 a.m.
According to investigators, some of the attacks were live-streamed.
After exchanging gunfire with the shooter for three minutes, responding police officers killed him, according to acting police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
“The suspect fired at the police. Then, we retaliated and neutralized that threat “She spoke. “The suspect has passed away.”
The shooter broadcast some of the horrific attacks live on social media, according to Gwinn-Villaroel.
“The suspect was live streaming, and sadly that’s tragic to know that that incident was out there and documented,” she said. We’re therefore optimistic that we can have that event cleared up.
Early on Monday afternoon, four victims were named: Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; Jim Tutt, 64; and Josh Barrick, 40.
And later Monday night, police reported the passing of Deanna Eckert, 57.
Elliott and Beshear communicated frequently, and Beshear expressed his sorrow over his passing.
“I’m hurting right now, and I know a lot of other people are too. Four of God’s children were lost, Beshear stated.
“Tommy Elliott advised me on how to be a good father, helped me become governor, and helped me grow my legal profession. He was one of the people I spoke to the most, yet we seldom ever discussed my job. He was a fantastic friend.
Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was wounded in the head and underwent surgery before being given a critical condition status, according to Gwinn-Villaroel. On March 31, Wilt received his police academy diploma.
Gwinn-Villaroel stated, “I just swore him in, and his family was there to see his journey to become a police officer.
According to a federal law enforcement source who has been informed of the attack, the shooter may have had mental health difficulties.
JD Worley, the CEO of a medical device business located across from Old National Bank, witnessed the injuries to two police officers. While the other appeared to be “motionless” and was dragged away by other cops, Worley recalled that one nevertheless managed to take cover and return fire.
According to Worley, the rapid shooting shattered the bank’s front glass, which went from floor to ceiling.
Worley said on “NBC Nightly News”: “I mean, it felt like seeing an action movie in real life.” Yet, this is merely a common occurrence in the news, and I could never have imagined that I would witness anything similar happening not only in my hometown but also in front of my very eyes.
According to officials, nine persons were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital, where three were listed in critical condition and three were discharged.
According to Louisville police, additional deaths and injuries were prevented by the cops’ quick response.
Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey remarked, “It is obvious from the officers’ actions that they unquestionably saved people’s lives.”
“This was a horrible incident, but the officers’ courageous response ensured that no one was gravely hurt more than what happened.”
Craig Greenberg, the mayor, also commended the police for saving lives. When a shooter burst into Greenberg’s campaign headquarters last year, he began to fire and missed only missing Greenberg’s pullover.
Greenberg stated, “We join together as a community to fight to prevent the continuation of these abhorrent acts of gun violence here and throughout the state. “Thanks to the work of our law enforcement, our community is safer and stronger.”
In the center of Kentucky’s biggest city, Main Street between North Floyd and North Preston streets was clogged with police cars, ambulances, and firetrucks.
It wasn’t immediately obvious if the bank had a security guard on staff.
Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan stated in a statement that “the safety of Old National Bank personnel and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is important.”
“Keep everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers,” Ryan said.
The Louisville Bats, the Cincinnati Reds Triple-A club, play their home games at Slugger Field, where the incident took place.
Monday, while that team was out of town, police seemed to conduct witness interviews in the stadium, which served as their center of operations.
Also, while police were sent to the Old National Bank, some of them had to disperse to attend to a shooting at Jefferson Community and Technical College, which was only a mile away, according to officials.
The two incidents were unrelated, and the school’s courses were canceled, according to officials.
Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader in the Senate, and his wife Elaine Chao hailed the police on Monday for their quick and courageous action.
In a statement, McConnell said, “Elaine and I are horrified by the news coming out of Louisville this morning. “We appreciate the bravery of the LMPD and our first responders at the scene. While we wait for additional details, we send our sympathies to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville.”
Joseph Biden, the president, and Jill Biden, his wife, stated they were praying for the victims.
In a statement, Biden said, “Once again, our country mourns following a terrible act of gun murder…. Too many Americans are paying the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress take action to save our neighborhoods?
The shooting on Monday was the most recent mass shooting in America. Two weeks prior, six individuals, three of whom were children, were shot and killed at a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.
Longtime Louisville locals who remember September 14, 1989, when enraged employee Joseph Wesbecker entered the Standard Gravure printing company armed with an AK-47 and murdered eight people, were similarly upset by Monday’s gunfire.
Wesbecker, 47, passed away at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.