Police released bodycam footage showing the initial police response to Monday’s mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville. Five people were killed, and eight others were wounded.
Summary
Police released bodycam footage showing the initial police response to Monday’s mass shooting at a bank in downtown Louisville. Five people were killed, and eight others were wounded.
- The footage shows Officer Nickolas Wilt, who was serving his fourth shift on duty since graduating from the police academy on March 31, and Officer Cory Galloway running up the stairs of the bank at 8:41am. Seconds later, they were fired upon by the shooter.
- The perpetrator was identified as Connor Sturgeon, a 25-year-old bank employee who livestreamed his heinous deeds. Sturgeon’s family said in a statement that he “had mental health challenges which we, as a family, were actively addressing, [but] there were never any warning signs or indications he was capable of this shocking act.”
- The dead victims have been identified as Tommy Elliott, 63, a senior vice president and personal friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear; Jim Tutt, 64, a market executive; Joshua Barrick, 40, another senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, a commercial loan specialist; and Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer.
- Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, was shot in the head by the perpetrator and remains in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery.
- CNN reported the audio of 911 calls will be released later on Wednesday, according to Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.
- According to NBC News, the suspect was declared “down” just seven minutes after the first dispatch call sent police speeding towards Old National Bank.
- “We know he texted or called at least one person to let them know he was suicidal and contemplating harm,” said Louisville Congressman Morgan McGarvey at a press conference, according to the New York Times.
- The New York Post reported the shooter texted “I love you” to his family minutes before he began his deadly rampage. His roommate, Dallas Whelan, has been cooperating with police and his attorney said the shooting was “as unknown and surprising to Dallas as everybody.”
- According to the Wall Street Journal, the gunman legally purchased the AR-15 he used in the massacre from a local dealer on April 4. Officers have executed a search warrant at his home and recovered some items, but police haven’t disclosed what they recovered.
- “It is clear from the officers’ response that they absolutely saved people’s lives,” Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said at a Monday press conference per Fox News. Officer Cory “CJ” Galloway initially responded to the scene with critically wounded Officer Wilt.
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© Dominic Moore, 2023
