A guy opened fire at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, killing five people and injuring seven others, including two police officers.
The gunman was identified as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, a bank employee.
Tommy Elliott, 63, Juliana Farmer, 57, Jim Tutt, 64, and Josh Barrick, 40, were all killed at the scene.
Deanna Eckert, 57, was the sixth victim and one of eight persons sent to the hospital, where she died.
Sturgeon was killed during a shootout with police at the bank, in which two officers were injured.
Police stated that Sturgeon, who had “no past involvement” with the police, began working as a full-time employee at the Old National Bank branch on East Main Street last year.
According to investigators, Sturgeon live-streamed sections of the shooting on the social media platform Instagram. Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Facebook, stated that the video was “immediately removed” from its platform.
Sturgeon, who was armed with a rifle, shot at cops, who returned fire, according to Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.
“The suspect opened fire on cops.” We then returned fire, putting an end to the threat.”
Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old cop caught in the crossfire, was shot in the head and needed surgery, according to the police chief.
She noted that the officer, who had recently graduated from the police academy, was in critical condition.
“I just swore him in, and his family was there to see his journey to become a cop,” Gwinn-Villaroel explained.
According to police, at least one more victim is in critical condition, while three others have been released from the hospital.
‘A heinous act of targeted violence.’
At a press conference, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg criticised the attack, saying, “Let’s be clear about what this was. This was a heinous act of premeditated violence.”
He also commended the city’s emergency response, saying that “without a doubt, their actions saved lives.”
“As a community, we will endeavour to prevent these awful acts of gun violence from occurring here and throughout the state,” he stated.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he knew some of the deceased, including Elliot, a senior vice president at the bank located near Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
“This is terrible,” he muttered, on the edge of tears.
“I had a really good buddy who passed away today. I also have another close pal who did not. And one who is in the hospital, whom I hope will survive.”
“They are irreplaceable, great individuals who were ripped from all of us by a horrendous act of violence,” the governor said of the victims.
‘A fantastic friend.’
“(He) helped me grow my law career, helped me become governor, and provided me guidance on being a good father,” he added of Elliott.
“He’s one of the people I talked to the most in the world, and we rarely talked about my profession.” He was a fantastic friend.”
On Monday, US President Joe Biden decried the shooting, saying that the country was mourning a “senseless act of gun violence” “once again.”
“Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today’s shooting,” he stated, urging Republicans in Congress to pass gun legislation.
