Five people have been killed after a horror shooting took place at a bank building in Louisville, Kentucky, with several others injured. Louisville Metro Police Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said said six people – including a police officer – have been taken to hospital. The suspected shooter – believed to have acted on his own – was confirmed dead at the scene. It is not yet clear how this person died.
Mr Humphrey said police officers who rushed to the scene earlier today “encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time”.
He added: “The shooter was confirmed to be dead on the scene. We do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time.”
FBI agents in surrounding also responded to the shooting at the bank building in Louisville.
The shooting took place in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank in the city of around 625,000 people.
Witnesses who left the building earlier today reportedly told a local TV station they heard gunfire inside, according to a report by Sky News.
It has also been reported by local media that people were being taken from the scene in ambulances.
Police believe the suspect acted alone in the shooting, and that he had links to the bank where the incident took place.
It is not yet clear what that connection is so far, but it is likely he was a previous employee at the business.
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Mr Humphrey said: “We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this, that he did have a connection to the bank.
“We’re trying to establish what that connection to the business. But it appears he was a previous employee.”
During a news conference, Louisville Mayor Andy Greenberg was visibly emotional as he held back tears.
He said: “This is awful. I have a very close friend that didn’t make it today. One is at the hospital and I hope he is going to make it through.
“When we talk about praying, I hope people will, for those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries they are going through.
“I want people to know that while today is a horrific act, I do believe this is a safe community with officers doing their best each and every day, and that’s what we saw here.
“We certainly saw the very best from them today, and I want to thank them, and all our other law enforcement officers for responding and doing their best, to try and save some of my friends, and many others.”
Earlier, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he was on his way to the scene in Louisville, tweeting: “Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville.”
