Livestream shows Louisville gunman kill colleagues, then wait for police

April 11, 2023
The no-longer-available Instagram footage begins with shooter Connor Sturgeon filming his AR-15-style rifle, then engaging a colleague who wishes him a good morning.

The Louisville gunman who killed five people in a Kentucky bank where he was about to lose his job livestreamed his rampage, which ended with him seemingly waiting for law enforcement to arrive, then shooting a police officer in the head.

A city official described no-longer-available Instagram footage of Monday’s massacre at Old National Bank to CNN. It begins with shooter Connor Sturgeon filming his AR-15-style rifle, then engaging a colleague who wishes him a good morning.

He reportedly tells that woman “You need to get out of here,” then attempts to shoot her as she flees, only to realize the gun is unloaded and its safety is engaged.

Sturgeon then loads the weapon, unlocks the safety, and shoots that woman in the back, according to CNN. Her condition is unclear.

Officials said the 25-year-old shooter purchased his weapon legally from a local dealership on April 4.

Video shows other bank employees scrambling as Sturgeon picks them off.

Police identified the victims as Joshua Barrick, 40, Deanna Eckert, 57, Thomas Elliot, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, and James Tutt, 64.

After firing at his colleagues, Sturgeon sits in a lobby facing the street and appears to wait for police to arrive. Police reportedly arrived quickly and acted decisively, killing the gunman.

The shooter reportedly learned he was going to be let go by the bank that employed him for roughly two years.

Louisville Metro Police Department Officer Nickolas Wilt — a 26-year-old rookie who graduated from the police academy March 31 — underwent brain surgery after taking a round to his head during that exchange. He remained in critical condition Tuesday afternoon.

Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, has worked to scrub footage from the shooting off their platforms.

Sturgeon reportedly left behind notes for his family and a friend, though their contents have not been made public. A former classmate of the shooter described him as a standout athlete who suffered multiple concussions.

Police said Tuesday their investigation is ongoing and it would be “inappropriate” to give details on how many shots were fired Monday. Officials said 170 units of blood were used to treat victims.

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