On March 23, 2023, Louisville, Kentucky was rocked by a mass shooting that left five people dead and several others injured. The incident occurred inside Old National Bank, where a 25-year-old employee, Connor Sturgeon, opened fire during a morning staff meeting. Sturgeon was livestreaming the incident online as it unfolded, causing shockwaves throughout the community and beyond. In this article, we will look at the details of the shooting, the aftermath, and the calls for gun control legislation that have followed.
The Shooting
The shooting at Old National Bank began around 8:30 a.m. on March 23, 2023, just 30 minutes before the bank opened to the public. Bank staff were holding their morning meeting in a conference room when Sturgeon, armed with a handgun, entered and opened fire. According to Rebecca Buchheit-Sims, a bank manager who was attending the meeting virtually, the shooting happened quickly and without warning. "I witnessed people being murdered," she told CNN. "I don’t know how else to say that."
The shooting claimed the lives of four bank employees: Joshua Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; Tommy Elliott, 63; and James Tutt, 64. Another victim, 57-year-old Deana Eckert, died later in hospital. Several others were injured, including a police officer who remains in critical condition.
Sturgeon, who had been employed at the bank for close to two years, had been notified that he was going to be fired from his job, according to law enforcement sources. He had also left behind a note for his parents and a friend indicating that he planned to carry out a shooting at his workplace.
When police arrived on the scene, Sturgeon was still firing his weapon. A shootout ensued, during which the gunman was killed. Two police officers were injured during the exchange of gunfire, including Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old rookie officer who ran toward the shooting.
The Aftermath
The shooting at Old National Bank has left the Louisville community reeling. Governor Andy Beshear has ordered flags across the state to fly at half-staff until Friday evening in honor of the victims. Members of the Old National Bank executive team, including CEO Jim Ryan, have traveled to Louisville to offer support to those affected by the tragedy. "We are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers," Ryan said in a statement.
The incident has also reignited calls for gun control legislation. President Joe Biden has urged Republican lawmakers to take action on the issue, tweeting: "Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"
However, some Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the expressions of grief will come and go without meaningful action. State Senator David Yates told CNN: "My worry is that everybody will raise their fists in anger and mourn and then in six weeks, eight weeks we go back to doing the same – nothing. I hope that they all don’t have to die in vain like so many of the other victims of these mass shootings. Maybe something positive can come from it."
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