4 killed in Louisville shooting, 8 hospitalized

Four people were killed and eight others hospitalized after a shooting in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Monday, police said. The suspected shooter is also dead.

The Louisville Metro Police Department said officers were on scene “in minutes” after calls came in for an “active aggressor” around 8:30 a.m. local time at the Old National Bank on Louisville’s Main Street.

Police arrived amid gunfire and exchanged shots with the suspected shooter, who died on scene, authorities said. Authorities are looking into whether the shooter died of a self-inflicted wound or was killed by officers.

At least two officers were shot, one of whom is currently in surgery, police said.

An investigation is ongoing, but authorities believe the suspected shooter may have previously worked at the bank.

Police also say there is “no longer a danger to the public,” but are asking the public to continue avoiding the area.

“There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized,” police said.  

“There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized,” police said. The Louisville FBI said special agents responded to the shooting scene to assist local law enforcement.

“Our city has experienced another horrific tragedy this morning with a mass shooting at Old National Bank. There, an evil act of gun violence took multiple lives and left several people, including one of our police officers, struggling for their lives,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg (D) said in a statement Monday afternoon.

Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel later identified the shooter as Connor Sturgeon, who was employed at the bank. Police say he used a rifle.

The victims were identified as Joshua Barrick, 40, James Tutt, 64, Thomas Elliot, 63, and Juliana Farmer, who was listed in an LMPD post as 45 but later described at a press conference as 57.

The officer who was “critically wounded while stopping the active shooter” and underwent brain surgery for his injuries was Nickolas Wilt, 26, who had graduated from the police academy less than two weeks ago, the police chief said.    

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said at a press conference on Monday that friends of his were among the victims.

“Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies,” he said.

President Biden on Monday called for gun safety reforms, including requiring safe storage of firearms and background checks for gun sales, and eliminating gun makers’ immunity from liability.

“How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities?” Biden asked. He thanked the LMPD and shared prayers for the survivors and victims.

“A strong majority of Americans want lawmakers to act on commonsense gun safety reforms. 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,” Biden said.

Updated at 3:47 p.m. The Associated Press contributed to this story.