An evil shooter who slaughtered four people in a Louisville bank today was a disgruntled former employee, police have revealed.
The gunman, who has since been named as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon. killed four people, with nine having been transported to hospital, and the shooter was found dead at the scene when police arrived.
The University of Louisville Hospital said it received nine patients including seven civilians and two police officers.
BREAKING: Louisville shooter Connor Sturgeon NAMED - Ex-employee, 25, texted friend he'd 'shoot up bank'
Deputy Police Chief Col. Paul Humphrey said police were called to Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky. He said the shooter was a "lone gunman" believed to have a previous connection to the bank.
"We're trying to establish what the connection was to the business but it appears he was a previous employee," Deputy Humphrey said.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear gave an emotional speech following the shooting, in which he revealed he lost two close friends who "didn't make it" and another at the hospital.
President Joe Biden paid tribute to the victims as he once again called for gun reform.
He tweeted: "Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence – Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today's shooting.Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives.When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, has taken to Twitter to comment on the shooting, calling it a "tragedy".
She said: "The tragedy in Lousville, Kentucky, is the 15th mass shooting in the first 10 days of April. Our hearts break for all affected.
"Too many families are grieving loss - but we are not helpless. We can act; we must act to End Gun Violence."
Addressing the media, Deputy Humphrey said: "Shortly after [receiving the call], officers arrived on scene, with Louisville Metro Fire and EMS where they encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time.
"The shooter was confirmed to be dead on the scene, we do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time.
"Five people have been confirmed to have been killed inside, at least six were transported to University of Louisville Hospital, including one officer, with various injuries. We are unable to confirm the status of those who have been transported at this time."
An eyewitness who was walking home from the gym at around 8.30am, said he saw police cars speeding the wrong way down Main Street toward the bank. He said he saw around 20 officers get out, rifles raised, before they ran into the building.
A witness inside the building told WHAS11 they saw a man with a "long assault rifle" fire multiple shots inside the bank on the first floor.
The eyewitness said: "He just started firing. I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, there's blood on me."
He then said he heard 10-15 shots fired, and the sound of people screaming from within.
Deputy Humphrey went on to say: "I will reiterate that this is an ongoing investigation, this information is preliminary, and it will be updated shortly.
"We ask that the public remain away from the scene, it wil be an ongoing scene that will take a long time to investigate. But there is no active danger known to the public at this time.
"if anyone has any information related to this incident, we ask that you call 574-LMPD, we will have another update press conference at 11.30 where we will be able to answer more questions and put out more information. As of now, that is all the information we are able to provide."
The Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) confirmed officers responded to "reports of an active aggressor" after the gunman opened fire in the bank. Bullet holes and shattered glass were spotted outside the building where the gunman opened fire on victims.
Police exchanged gunfire with the shooter, however it is unclear as of yet whether it was a police bullet or one of the shooter's bullets which was fatal to him.
In a thread on Twitter, LMPD said: "Calls came in for an active aggressor at around 8.30 this morning (April 10) in the 300 block E Main at the Old National Bank.
"Officers were on the scene in minutes. The lone shooter is deceased."
In a tweet, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene. "Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville," Mr Beshear said. The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.
Roads around the area have been closed, with police warning residents to expect closures to remain in place throughout most of the day.
Sources have said armed police had to force their way into the bank, and that workers inside had taken shelter inside a vault.
These killings happened just 170 miles from Nashville, where a gunman recently opened fire at a Christian school just two weeks ago, killing six people.
There have been at least 146 mass shootings in the US in 2023 so far, just 100 days into the year (Monday, April 10). The US Department of Justice defines a mass shooting as "any incident in which at least four people are murdered with a gun."
Kentucky's Governer Andy Beshear gave an emotional speech following the Louisville bank shooting. "This is awful," he said.
"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 went on to say: "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."
