Several new details emerged Tuesday about the horrific, livestreamed massacre carried out by a gunman who killed five colleagues at a bank office in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning.
Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel identified the suspect as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, an employee at the Old National Bank. Officials said Tuesday that Sturgeon used an AR-15 he’d purchased legally on April 4, told at least one person that he was suicidal and intent on causing harm shortly before the attack, and left a note. Gwinn-Villaroel said Sturgeon was livestreaming throughout the attack, which also left nine people injured, including three police officers.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, confirmed it “quickly removed” the stream after it was uploaded. But an unnamed city official provided details to CNN early Tuesday, saying the attack only lasted about a minute.
According to the source, the weapon was clearly visible at the beginning of the livestream as the shooter entered the bank. There, he was reportedly greeted by a worker who wished him a good morning. “You need to get out of here,” the gunman reportedly told the woman—before attempting to shoot her in the back.
The official said the attempt failed because the weapon was unloaded and its safety was on. After taking the safety off and loading the rifle properly, the gunman then shot the woman in the back, the source said. It’s not clear if she survived.
The shooter then opened fire at people inside the bank as they attempted to drop to the floor, according to the official, who added that the gunman didn’t go to any floors where other employees were present. The attack started at around 8:38 a.m., before the bank had opened to the public.
After around one minute of carnage, the gunman sat in the lobby and waited for cops to arrive, the official said. About 90 seconds later, officers arrived and exchanged fire with him. Sturgeon was killed in a shootout.
On Tuesday, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said media reports that Sturgeon had been fired, or was on the verge of being fired, were incorrect. He was still employed by the bank and had access to the building as a result, Greenberg said.
“This was targeted,” Gwinn-Villaroel said. “He knew those individuals because he worked there and the evil that played out [yesterday], taking those lives and injuring so many others, it’s just truly unfortunate.”
Cops are yet to disclose a potential motive, but said body-camera footage would be released Tuesday afternoon. Greenberg said that video will show Cory Galloway, one of the responding officers who suffered a graze from a gunshot himself, was the person who killed Sturgeon just minutes after he opened fire in the bank. Galloway had been training new recruit Nickolas Wilt, who was shot in the head as he “unflinchingly” ran towards the danger on Monday, Gwinn-Villaroel said.
Speaking at Tuesday’s press conference, an impassioned Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) called on lawmakers to make it harder for people to purchase guns on a whim, and criticized Republicans who’ve recently focused on “banning books” and “pronouns” instead of the increasingly common mass shootings that have ravaged communities.
“If you are a person of faith we welcome your prayers,” McGarvey said. “But we need policies in place to prevent this from happening again. We need bipartisan action to stop this.”
On Monday, a former friend and teammate of Sturgeon’s from Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knob, Indiana, told The Daily Beast that Sturgeon was smart and popular during his school days. The friend said that Sturgeon had worn a helmet during basketball games after suffering “multiple concussions.”
Police confirmed the names of those killed in the attack as Old National Bank staff Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Josh Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 57, and Deana Eckert, 57.
Three police officers were injured, including Wilt, 26, who graduated from the academy on March 31 and was on his fourth-ever shift.
Dr. Jason Smith of UofL Health said the hospital burned through 170 units of blood to treat victims—an amount that “far outstrips” the hospital’s usual capacity. Wilt remained in critical condition on Tuesday, he said.
All Democrat propaganda fake news media stations need to burn to the ground like they did during World War II the American people are sick of Communism being forced on our throat for 200 years plus these are domestic terrorist agencies being protected by Democrat communist corrupted sexually perverted satanic agencies made up of the same demons that this fraudulently elected government coup d’etat is made of
Once again every leader involved at the microphone states we need “policies” to prevent people from purchasing guns. It is obvious this shooter has mental issues, which has also been pointed out in other shootings, BUT the Dems demand gun control of the rest of us. For what reason do you think???? I know.
What I want to know is, where were these so called caring and loving Democrats 3 yrs ago when countless thousands of people were literally burning down cities, looting stores and threatening and killing innocents. Oh that’s right, they were marching right along side of them and chanting the same stupid chants the rest of the crowd was. Anybody remember Maxine telling people to yell and throw people out of stores and eating establishments if they didn’t approve of them being there?
When will they figure it out!? Mass shootings are only done in “no gun” zones. So by making more “no gun” zones and taking away legal weapons from law abiding citizens….we are only promoting mass shooting. Those doing the shootings obviously do not obey laws. This includes gun laws. Guns are always available illegally.