The video of this incident went viral on Instagram, as the employee open-fired on civilians. Causing 5 deaths and several injuries including a rookie police officer.
The victims of this unfortunate incident were between 40 to 64. Apart from that, several reports of injuries included a severely injured rookie police officer. According to the reports this young police officer was just graduated from the force only two weeks back. Several videos of the incident made by the eyewitnesses stormed various social media platforms including Instagram.
The police officer was shot in the head and has to undergo critical brain surgery and still his life is in danger. But the police force acted promptly and as a response to his gunfire they fatally shot the attacker within three minutes. It was around 8.30 in the morning when this incident took place.
One of the witnesses Caleb Goodlett told the local media, that his wife, who is also a bank employee, locked herself in the bank vault when the attack started. Another eyewitness described the shooting between the attackers and the police officers.
To this incident, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said that his “incredible friend” Tommy Elliot, a senior vice president at the bank, was among the victims of this unfortunate incident. He said, “Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad.”
The five victims of this incident were Thomas Elliot (63), James Tutt (64), Joshua Barrick (40), Julianna Farmer (45), and Deana Eckert (57). The policeman who was shot in his head during this open fire was one of the Louisville Metro officers. Officer Nickolas Wilt is just 26 years old.
City Councilman Anthony Piagentini told the media that Mr. Witt graduated from the academy on the 31st of March. And his brother is still one of the enrolled students at the police academy. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said that this is “an evil act of targeted violence”. The mayor also mentioned that he was also a victim of another recent gun attack. Last year, a man with mental illness showed up at his campaign office with a gun.
Two survivors from the attacks of Monday morning told the media that the gunshots first broke out in the conference room on the ground floor of the bank building. Pointing to his t-shirt one man said, “Whoever was next to me got shot – blood is on me from it.”
The suspect in this attack was identified as Connor Sturgeon. According to the police reports this 25-year-old attacker was holding an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle during this attack. And he was broadcasting this shooting online as well. Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said, “That’s tragic to know that that incident was out there and captured.”
Meta, the owner of Instagram, said they have quickly removed the video of this tragic incident from being broadcasted online. Police have confirmed that this attacker has no history of crime or any contact with law enforcement.
