A man who horrifically shot dead four people at a bank building in Louisville, Kentucky in the US reportedly told a friend he was feeling suicidal and would “shoot up the bank”. The suspect has been identified by police as Connor Sturgeon, a 23-year-old employee at Old National Bank. Five people were killed, including the shooter himself, with police confirming he live streamed the massacre on Instagram. Nine other people were taken to hospital.
The four deceased victims are Joshua Barrick, 40, Thomas Elliot, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, and James Tutt, 64.
Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said Sturgeon fired at responding officers, who returned fire to “stop that threat”.
The 23-year-old joined the bank full-time in 2021 after three consecutive summer internships, but was reportedly recently let go by the firm.
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) said he shot 13 people in total, including two officers. Six people are in hospital and of those, three remain in a critical condition.
There are allegedly now reports circulating online of Sturgeon reportedly telling a friend he was feeling suicidal and would “shoot up the bank”, according to The Mirror.
The report also says chilling images have began circulating online showing what apparently is his Instagram account.
On one image a message is shared reading: “THEY WON’T LISTEN TO WORDS OR PROTESTS. LET’S SEE IF THEY HEAR THIS.”
In addition, horror images reportedly shared by the suspect in a group chat include memes. One is titled ‘Monday vibes’ has the caption: “I could burn this whole place down” alongside the image.
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Police found the shooter dead at the scene when they arrived. It was confirmed fire was exchanged between police and the suspect, but it remains unclear if he was shot or shot himself.
Deputy Chief Col. Paul Humphrey of the LMPD said police who rushed to the scene earlier today “encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time”.
He said: “We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this, that he did have a connection to the bank.”
The deputy chief explained: “We’re trying to establish what the connection was to the business but it appears he was a previous employee.”
During a news conference, Louisville Mayor Andy Greenberg was visibly emotional as he revealed he has lost two “close friends” in the shooting, with another in hospital.
Fighting back tears, he said: “This is awful.
“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 continued: “And so I hope that all the brave officers that stepped into the line of fire that are worried about one of their fellow officers will reach out for help when they need it.
“I hope that every one of those bank employees and folks in that building – one that I know well, my AG campaign was out of that building, and [I know] virtually everyone in it. That’s my bank.
“I hope that they will all reach out and get the help they need.
“There are a lot of people who are hurting today, and if we have a place to focus our energy, I hope that it is to surround them with the love and the compassion that we have been so good at showing one another.
“I want people to know that while today is a horrific act, I do believe that this is a safe community with officers doing their very best each and every day, and that’s what we saw here.”
