Police have confirmed 5 dead and at least 8 others wounded after a gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. As this is still an ongoing investigation, no identification of any of the victims or the shooter has been released yet.
Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey stated that the shooting occurred around 8:30 this morning at Old National Bank in the 300 block of East Main Street near Slugger Field. The bank sat in the heart of downtown Louisville.
Thankfully, police were able to respond to the scene quickly and take down the shooter before potentially harming even more. The responding officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, who was eventually killed. Police weren’t immediately clear if the shooter died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted wound. During the exchange of gunfire, two officers were wounded, one having to be rushed into surgery and the other with non-life-threatening injuries.
The attack is being labeled as a case of workplace violence. Officials say that the shooter was a former bank employee who struggled with mental health issues. Although the identity of the gunman has yet to be released to the public, officials are speculating this was a planned attack.
Kentucky governor Andy Beshear knew 3 of the victims, two who died in the shooting and one who is in the hospital battling injuries sustained from this morning’s incident. Fighting back tears, he spoke to reporters, saying “this is awful. 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 is at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.”
The CEO of Old National Bank, representatives of Louisville, and the state of Kentucky have released statements extending their sorrows and sending prayers to those impacted by the shooting.
Mayor of Louisville, Craig Greenberg, sent out a tweet notifying the people of the city that they have set up a family assistance center to help anyone reunite with those involved in the bank shooting. The Center is located at the Kentucky International Convention Center.
