Louisville shooting : 6 people are dead and 8 are injured
A Tragic Day in Louisville : What We Know About the Bank Shooting That Killed Four and Injured Nine
On Monday morning, April 10, 2023, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. A gunman armed with a rifle opened fire at the Old National Bank building, killing four people and injuring nine others, before being shot dead by police.
The shooting was one of the deadliest mass shootings in Kentucky history and shocked the nation. Here is what we know so far about the incident and its aftermath.
Who was the gunman?
The gunman was identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, 25, an employee of the bank. He was livestreaming the shooting on Instagram, according to Meta, the parent company of the social media platform. Meta said it quickly took down the livestream and cooperated with law enforcement.
Police said Sturgeon shot at officers when they arrived at the scene and they returned fire and killed him. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.
Who were the victims?
The four people who died in the shooting were Jim Tutt Jr., 64, Tommy Elliott, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, and Josh Barrick, 40. All of them were employees or customers of the bank.
One of the victims, Elliott, was a close friend and mentor of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who gave an emotional statement at a news conference.
“Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,” Beshear said. “He was an incredible friend.”
Beshear also said another friend of his was among the injured.
Of the nine people who were wounded, three were in critical condition, three had non-life-threatening injuries and three were discharged from the hospital, according to Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at the University of Louisville Hospital.
Two of the injured were police officers, including Nickolas Wilt, 26, a recent academy graduate who was shot in the head and underwent surgery. He was in critical condition but expected to survive.
How did the community react?
The shooting sent shockwaves through Louisville and beyond. Mayor Craig Greenberg called it “an evil act of targeted violence” and praised the police for their swift response.
“This is awful,” Greenberg said. “Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these kinds of tragedies.”
Greenberg said a family assistance center for victims and family members was set up at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
Many people expressed their condolences and support for Louisville on social media, using hashtags like #LouisvilleStrong and #PrayForLouisville.
President Joe Biden also issued a statement condemning the shooting and offering federal assistance to Kentucky.
“I am heartbroken by the senseless violence that took place in Louisville today,” Biden said. “I join all Americans in mourning the loss of life and praying for those who were injured.”
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Biden also called for action to prevent gun violence and urged Congress to pass universal background checks and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
“We can’t accept this as normal,” Biden said. “We have to act.”