A devastating mass shooting occurred on April 10, 2023, at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky. The shooter, identified as 25-year-old Connor James Sturgeon, was a former employee of the bank. Sturgeon used an AR-15-style rifle, which he had purchased legally six days prior to the shooting .
The shooting took place on the first floor of the bank, near Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park. Five people were killed in the attack, and eight others were injured, including two responding police officers. The victims were all employees of the Old National Bank, and they were identified as Josh Barrick, 40; Deana Eckert, 57; Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Jim Tutt, 64 .
Sturgeon’s motive for the attack was to highlight the lax gun laws in the United States. He had noted that part of his goal was to show how easily a person with mental illness could legally acquire a firearm in the US.
The shooter had set himself up in an ambush position to target police officers. He exchanged gunfire with the police and was fatally shot by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD).
The investigation into the shooting was led by the LMPD, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The shooter’s brain was retained and tested for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), but no evidence of CTE was found.
The shooting was widely condemned by local and national leaders, including Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and President Joe Biden. The incident sparked renewed calls for gun reform and increased awareness of mental health issues.
