Louisville shooting live updates: 5 dead, 9 injured at downtown bank

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg mentioned on Monday that he had survived an earlier workplace shooting, more than a year before the attack at Louisville's Old National Bank Building.

Greenberg was running for his current office when in February 2022 a man walked into his campaign office in Butchertown and started shooting.

Louisville Public Media covered the shooting at the time. The outlet reported that Greenberg said "Despite one bullet coming so close that it grazed my sweater and my shirt, no one was physically harmed."

Four of Greenberg's staffers were with him at the office at the time, but they managed to barricade the entrance to prevent the shooter from causing more damage.

Prosecutors have said that the shooter, Quintez Brown, wanted to kill Greenberg to stop him from winning his election.

The University of Louisville canceled classes and closed campuses for the remainder of the day out of respect for the victims of the shooting and to provide emotional support to the school community, the school said.

At some point during the day, some of the school's buildings were under lockdown. The university's main campus is roughly four miles from the site of Monday's mass shooting at the Old National Bank downtown.

The school's Louisville Cardinals baseball team also announced it was postponing its scheduled game against the University of Kentucky, after reaching a mutual decision with the school.

"The two programs will work to reschedule the contest for a later date," the team said.

The university is offering counseling services for students, faculty and staff who are struggling in the wake of the shooting.

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was emotional as he shared that one of the victims killed in the Old National Bank shooting was a close friend of his. Beshear said two other friends also survived the attack at the bank.

Tommy Elliott (spelled ‘Elliot’ by police), 63, was one of four people killed by a gunman on Monday morning in downtown Louisville.

Elliott was "an incredible friend," Beshear said during a press conference in the city this afternoon. Beshear credited Elliott with helping him build his law career.

"He gave me advice on being a good dad," Beshear said. He added that Elliott was one of the people he spoke to most in the world.

“Today I’m hurt and I’m hurting and I know so many people out there are as well," Beshear said. He thanked law enforcement for their quick response that saved lives — including at least two of the governor's other friends.

Beshear said early on he heard word that two other friends were also injured in the attack, believing for some time one of them was dead. He later learned both of his friends survived, but that one is injured and in the hospital.

He said conversations now should be focused on honoring the people who died.

"My faith teaches me that while the body is mortal, the soul is eternal. So, I know I will see Tommy again. I know that all of these families and friends in this community will be reunited in a better place without violence. Without the senselessness and hurt we feel today," he said. "We will get through this."

Beshear has ordered flags be flown at half-staff statewide in honor of the victims until Friday.

Authorities say nine victims were rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital after the shooting.

Three people have been treated and released, three remain hospitalized in noncritical condition and another three are in critical condition.

That includes Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had just graduated from the police academy on March 31, according to Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel.

Wilt was shot in the head and underwent brain surgery, and the rookie officer is now in critical but stable condition, she added.

“I’ve been down there with the family and given my love and support, been with all of the families today to show our love and support for them, and anything else they need from LMPD we will provide that,” Gwinn-Villaroel said.

During a news conference Monday afternoon, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel identified the suspected shooter as Connor Sturgeon.

“This is the only time that I will mention the suspect’s name in this case,” Gwinn-Villaroel said.

The 25-year-old was employed at Old National Bank, she said.

Gwinn-Villaroel said Sturgeon used a rifle to carry out the shooting, but she said she did not yet know where he obtained it and if he purchased it legally.

She said, to her knowledge, police had had no previous interaction with the gunman. She confirmed that the attack was livestreamed online but did not give any details.

The gunman graduated from the University of Alabama in 2020, the university confirmed to NPR.

Police previously said Sturgeon was 23 but later clarified his age was 25.

The Louisville Metro Police Department has identified the four people who were killed by a gunman in Monday’s shooting.

Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63 (spelled ‘Elliot’ by police); James Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer died in the attack.

Gov. Andy Beshear said he was close friends with Elliott.

“Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,” Beshear said. A LinkedIn profile with the same name identifies Elliott as a senior vice president at Old National Bank, the location of the shooting.

“Today, I’m hurt. And I’m hurting. And I know so many people out there are as well.”

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg decried the "evil act of gun violence" that took multiple lives this morning in his city's downtown.

In a statement shared on Twitter, Greenberg asked the public to "join us in praying for the recovery of those who are receiving medical care, the families of those who lost a loved one, and those who are scared and heartbroken by what has happened this morning."

Four people were killed at the scene of the shooting at the Old National Bank. The gunman also died. Nine people were injured and sent to the hospital.

The White House has issued a full statement from President Biden on the mass shooting in Louisville earlier today.

"Once again, our nation is in mourning after a senseless act of gun violence. Jill and I are praying for those killed and injured in the tragic shooting in Louisville, and for the survivors who will carry grief and trauma for the rest of their lives," the statement read.

Biden has frequently called on Congress to pass an assault weapons ban following major mass shootings during his administration. In today's message, Biden called on lawmakers to act on several gun safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

"It’s long past time that we require safe storage of firearms. Require background checks for all gun sales. Eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability. We can and must do these things now. A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms," he said.

"Instead, from Florida to North Carolina to the U.S. House of Representatives, we’ve watched Republican officials double down on dangerous bills that make our schools, places of worship, and communities less safe. It’s unconscionable, it’s reckless, and too many Americans are paying with their lives."

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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the Louisville bank shooting, according to a Justice Department spokesperson.

Lawmakers have not moved beyond bipartisan legislation passed last June that included incentives for states to pass “red flag laws” and expanded background checks, among other provisions.

Today's shooting came less than two weeks after a new Kentucky law took effect that blocks state and local law enforcement from participating in any federal bans on guns, ammunition or firearms accessories.

Anyone who violates the statute — a so-called “Second Amendment sanctuary” law — could be fired from their job and charged with a misdemeanor.

Republican Rep. Josh Bray, who sponsored the bill, told Louisville Public Media it meant that local and state authorities could not “roll up and enforce any unconstitutional bans.”

The bill was approved by Kentucky’s Republican-majority legislature and became law late last month after Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear neither signed nor vetoed it.

Police have not said how the suspected shooter obtained the gun or guns used in Monday’s attack.

In a series of tweets, Beshear called the shooting in downtown Louisville a “tragedy” and a “senseless act” and said the victims’ families “need us to wrap our arms around them and to love them with all our hearts.”

Last year, after the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Beshear said any changes to Kentucky’s gun laws would require the buy-in of state legislative leadership.

University of Louisville Health, the hospital that received victims from today's shooting, told NPR in a statement that it has treated a total of nine patients — including two officers and seven civilians.

That's one more person than the number provided by Louisville police earlier this morning.

One of the officers remains in critical condition, the hospital says. At least three of the patients have already been discharged.

The hospital's chief medical officer, Dr. Jason Smith, will join the next scheduled press briefing on the shooting at 3 p.m. ET.

One person was killed and another injured in a separate shooting this morning in Louisville's downtown area, according to local reports.

The shooting happened outside a Jefferson Community & Technical College building, police said, not far from the mass shooting that occurred a little more than a mile away at the city's Old National Bank Building on East Main Street earlier this morning.

The Louisville Metro Police tweeted that the suspects in the second, smaller shooting "fled prior to police arrival." The Courier Journal reports that police received a call about the JCTC shooting at about 11 a.m.

The school shared that its technical campus will remain in lockdown following reports of the shooting. It also announced all campuses would close at 12 p.m. "out of reverence for those involved in shootings that have occurred today."

In a tweet, President Biden offered his condolences and prayers for those impacted by the shooting. He also called on Republicans in Congress to act, saying, "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives."

Biden has consistently called for Congress to pass an assault weapons ban following major mass shootings during his time in office. (Louisville police have yet to say what kind of weapon today's shooter used.)

State Sen. David Yates, a Democrat representing Kentucky's 37th district, said in a tweet that one of his friends was a victim in today's shooting.

"My heart goes out to his family and to all of the victims and their families, as well as to our police officer who is still fighting for his life," he wrote in the short missive.

At a press conference earlier today, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said one of his friends was among the four killed by a gunman.

Ryan Van Velzer, a Louisville-based reporter for NPR member station WFPL, said the shooting sent police cars whizzing through Louisville traffic during the morning commute.

One driver was Matt Irwin, a public defender. Unable to turn around, he got out of his car and began waving others back.

“And I heard shots going off and I saw an officer pull a rifle out of his truck responding and another officer down in the intersection behind a car," Irwin told Van Velzer.

Another witness, a line cook at a nearby restaurant, told Van Velzer he helped people to shelter inside the restaurant at the police's request.

Van Velzer is himself a mass shooting survivor. "I have covered two others off the top of my head... including today," he wrote on Twitter.

➡️ Check out the full Twitter thread from Ryan Van Velzer.

Members of the executive team for Old National Bank are en route to Louisville, the company said in a statement shared on social media.

"The safety of ONB employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount,” CEO Jim Ryan is quoted as saying. “As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers."

First established in 1834, Old National Bank is a regional institution that holds $46 billion in assets, according to the company's website. There are over 258 branches of the bank across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Monday's shooting unfolded at the Preston Point location, which has been in operation for about 18 years, the company says.

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There have been more mass shootings than days so far in 2023 — 146 of them, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), a database that relies on a mix of 7,500 government and media sources to track violence across the country.

The GVA defines a mass shooting as an incident with a minimum of four victims shot (either injured or killed), not including the shooter. There have been at least 15 mass shootings in the U.S. in just the first 10 days of April, the GVA says.

In the last month alone, NPR reported on a shooting at a Denver High School and the deaths of six people — including three 9-year-olds — at a shooting at a Nashville Christian school.

In total, more than 11,500 people have been killed by guns in the last four months alone, the GVA reports.

➡️ Read about how to cope with the trauma of mass shootings.

The Muhammad Ali Center is located just about eight blocks away from the Old National Bank building, along the waterfront in downtown Louisville. The international education center is dedicated to principles such as advancing social justice, all in honor of one of Louisville's hometown heroes.

In a statement shared on Twitter, the center said the shooting was another point in a vicious cycle of gun violence.

"While the proximity changes, the story does not," the statement reads. "We owe it to ourselves, our communities, our children, and our country to do what is right and put a stop to mass shootings that occur all too often."

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Monday morning that he was "devastated" to hear about the shooting.

"Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning," McConnell said in a tweet.

"Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information," he added.

The gunman is believed to have a connection to Old National Bank, where the shooting took place, said Deputy Chief Humphrey at the start of the press briefing.

"We're trying to establish what that connection was, but it appears he was a previous employee," Humphrey said, adding that the investigation was ongoing.

When asked by reporters later, Humphrey clarified that it was unclear whether the shooter was a current or former employee.

Police were still working to identify the victims and notify the families, Humphrey said.

Another press briefing is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.

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Speaking at the scene of the shooting just now, Kentucky Gov. Andy Besehear, a Democrat, says some of his own friends were among the victims.

"This is awful," he said at the end of his update into the shooting investigation. "I have a very close friend that didn't make it today."

"And I have another close friend who didn't either. And one who's at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through," he said in a voice shaking with emotion. "So when we talk about praying — I hope people will. For those that we're hoping can make it through the surgeries they're going through.

"And then we've gotta do what we've done these last three years after everything. We've got to wrap our arms around these families."

He added that Old National Bank was the financial institution he used for his campaign for attorney general.

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Police arrived on the scene of the shooting three minutes after being dispatched, where they encountered the suspected shooter still firing, said Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey. Police exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who died.

Humphrey said it’s unclear if the suspect was killed by police or died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At least two officers were shot during the exchange of gunfire, including one who is in surgery at the University of Louisville Hospital and is in critical condition.

A total of eight victims, including two who are in critical condition, are being treated for their injuries, Humphrey said.

In addition to the shooter, four people were confirmed dead inside the building.

Police are sharing updates on this morning's shooting. Follow along with local news outlets WAVE or WHAS 11.

We'll bring you updates on their remarks shortly.

At a brief press conference, Louisville Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey confirmed that the gunman, whom Humphrey referred to as "he," is dead. It's unclear how the gunman died.

Six people — including a Louisville police officer — were taken to to the University of Louisville hospital with injuries.

Police said calls reporting the shooting came in around 8:30 a.m. local time. Police responded to the scene within minutes, they said.

While there is no longer an active danger to the public, police are still asking everyone to avoid the area as investigations continue.

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The incident happened in a multi-story building on the 300 block of East Main Street. The Old National Bank sits on the first floor of the building, with commercial space and residences higher up. Scanner traffic indicates police went floor-to-floor to clear each room.

The building is just across the street from Louisville's Slugger Field, the home stadium of the Bats, Louisville's minor league baseball team.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a tweet that residents should avoid the area until further notice.

"We will provide information as soon as possible," he tweeted.

In a tweet, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says he’s headed to the site of today’s shooting in Louisville. “Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville," he wrote.

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In a brief statement, deputy chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department says five people were killed and six others injured during a shooting Monday morning at the Old National Bank Building in Louisville.

The gunman is dead and there’s no longer an active threat, police said. Scanner traffic indicates police scaled the eight-story building, going floor-to-floor to clear each room.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms also said in tweets they’re responding to the scene. In videos posted to social media, rapid gunfire could be heard ringing out from the street.