A mass shooting has claimed the lives of five people in Louisville, Kentucky. Source: rawpixel
A bank employee has shot and killed five people, and injured nine, at his workplace at a downtown bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
The gunman, who was identified by police as 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, live-streamed the attack online, which took place at the Old National Bank in Louisville at around 8:30 am, local time, on Monday.
Sturgeon was shot and killed at the scene, but police are unsure whether this was caused by police gunfire or a self-inflicted gunshot.
Police chief, Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, told reporters that Sturgeon was armed with a rifle and was live-streaming the shooting.
Louisville Mayor, Craig Greenberg, said, “We will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state.”
Kentucky Governor, Andy Beshear, said he knew some of the victims of the attack.
“I have a very close friend who 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,” Beshear said.
The nine people who were injured during the shooting, including two police officers, have been treated at the University of Louisville hospital. Three of those injured, including one of the officers, are in critical condition.
The shooter, who worked as an intern at the bank from 2018 to 2020 before becoming a fulltime employee in 2022, had no contact with Louisville police prior to the attack.
Mr Greenberg told reporters that this attack “was a targeted act of evil violence.”
So far this year, there have 146 mass shootings in the US. The definition of a mass shooting is four or more people shot or killed, not including the shooter.
US President Joe Biden responded to the Louisville attack, stating his wish for Congress to pass legislation requiring the safe storage of firearms, background checks for all gun sales, and for gun manufacturers to stop being immune from liability.
“How many more Americans must die before Republicans in Congress will act to protect our communities,” Mr Biden said.
