LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) –
A shooting at a downtown Louisville bank on Monday morning killed four people and injured at least nine more. The shooter has also been killed.
When officers got at the Old National Bank on Main Street at 8:30 a.m., they discovered an active shooter inside with a rifle.
Police have identified him as Connor Sturgeon, 23.
Officers exchanged fire with Sturgeon, who was working at the bank at the time, according to authorities.
According to LMPD, Sturgeon fired at officers, who returned fire and subsequently “stopped that threat.”
The four victims were all bank employees: Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, and Juliana Farmer, 57. Elliott was close to both the governor and the mayor.
Nine people were taken to the hospital, including two police officers. Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old LMPD officer, was shot in the head and is undergoing brain surgery at UofL Hospital. He’s in serious trouble.
According to LMPD, he “ran towards the gunfire today to save lives.”
Three persons are in serious condition, while three of the nine have already been released.
Police haven’t determined a motive or how the shooter obtained the rifle. He did, however, livestream the shooting on social media.
Although there is no actual danger to the public at this time, police are recommending residents to avoid the area.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg stated the city has established a family help center at the Kentucky International Convention Center’s 3rd and Market entrance for anyone connected in the shooting. The mayor stated that victims and their families should attend to that spot for updates.
During a press conference, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear became emotional as he mentioned losing two close friends in the massacre.
He also stated that another acquaintance had been injured and was in the hospital, and that he hoped he would be okay.
“This is terrible,” Beshear said. “I had a really good buddy who passed away today. And I have another close buddy who did not, as well as another who is in the hospital and I hope will survive.”
Multiple loud pops that sounded like gunshots could be heard in video given by a WLKY viewer, followed by someone screaming, “active shooter at the bank.”
The video can be viewed in the player below.
President Joe Biden tweeted that the shooting was a “senseless act of gun violence” and sent his condolences to the victims and everyone affected.
