In a horrifying incident, a Louisville, Kentucky bank witnessed the tragic loss of five lives when an employee unleashed a hail of bullets and broadcasted the violence on Instagram. The victims, aged between 40 and 64, were among nine others wounded, including a newly-inducted police officer, who is currently in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery.

Swift police response led to the attacker’s demise within three minutes of the first shots. The Old National Bank in downtown Louisville became a scene of chaos around 08:30 local time (12:30 GMT).

Caleb Goodlett, a worried husband, shared that his wife, a bank employee, sought refuge in the vault during the assault. Bystanders recounted the fierce gunfire exchange between the police and the solitary assailant.

Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, mourned the loss of his dear friend, Tommy Elliot, a senior vice-president at the bank. Beshear spoke of Elliot’s invaluable guidance in his personal and professional life.

The fallen victims were identified as:

  • Thomas Elliot, 63
  • James Tutt, 64
  • Joshua Barrick, 40
  • Julianna Farmer, 45
  • Deana Eckert, 57

Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was identified as the critically injured policeman. City Councilman Anthony Piagentini confirmed that Wilt recently graduated from the academy on March 31st.

Labeling the incident as an “evil act of targeted violence,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg empathized, as he had also faced a gun attack in the past.

Survivors recounted that the initial gunfire erupted in a ground-floor conference room. One man described the gruesome scene, with blood from a nearby victim staining his shirt.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, was identified as the attacker, who employed an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during the rampage. Sturgeon had been employed at the bank full-time since last year and had interned there for three summers prior.

The assailant reportedly had no prior run-ins with the law, but recent reports suggest that the bank had informed him of his impending termination. He allegedly penned a detailed note of his macabre intentions before Monday’s attack.

In 2023 alone, the Gun Violence Archive has recorded a minimum of 146 mass shootings, with 15 occurring in April. As the violence continues, President Joe Biden urged Congress to enact gun control measures, stating that “Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.”

In Kentucky, like 25 other states, most adults over 21 can purchase and carry firearms without a license.