Police confirm 5 dead, 6 wounded
A gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, leaving five dead — including at least two friends of Gov. Andy Beshear — and wounding eight others, authorities said.
The shooter, described as a current or former employee of Old National Bank, also wounded two responding police officers, one critically, officials said.
The attacker was killed not long after the 8:30 a.m. ET shooting unfolded at 333 E. Main St., Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.
Responding officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman, police said, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the shooter died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted wound.
Gov. Andy Beshear fought back tears, telling reporters two of the dead and one of the wounded were friends of his.
“This is awful,” said Beshear, adding that his 2015 campaign for attorney general was based at that building. “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 gunman is believed to be an employee and may have had mental health issues, according to a federal law enforcement source who has been briefed on the attack.
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Two officers were wounded, with one rushed into surgery and another with a non-life-threatening injury, Humphrey said.
The wounded were taken to the University of Louisville Hospital and two of them, including the officer, were listed in critical condition, Humphrey said.
Their names were not immediately released.
“We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this, that did have a connection to the bank,” Humphrey said. “It appears he was a previous employee.”
The fast response of officers prevented more deaths and injuries, Louisville police said.
“It is clear from the officers’ response that they absolutely saved peoples’ lives,” Humphrey said. “This was a tragic event but it was the heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.”
Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks flooded Main Street between North Floyd and North Preston Streets, in the heart of Kentucky’s largest city.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the bank employed a security guard at the location where gunfire erupted on Monday.
“The safety of Old National Bank employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount,” Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan said in a statement.
The bank executive called for “keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers.”
The incident unfolded in the shadows of Slugger Field, home of the Cincinnati Reds triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife Elaine Chao, thanked police.
“Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning,” the Kentucky Republican said in a statement. “Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information.”
President Joe Biden has been briefed on the Louisville shooting, a White House official told NBC News.
Monday’s gunfire was the latest mass shooting in America and just two weeks after six people, including three young children, were gunned down at a private Christian school in Nashville.
This is a developing story. Please refresh here for updates.
Chloe Atkins, Ken Dilanian and Colin Sheeley contributed.
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