Four people have been killed and at least nine others have been wounded in a shooting at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.
The shooter died after exchanging gunfire with police at about 8.30am, Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said on Monday, but he added that it’s unclear if the gunman, who appeared to be an employee, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or by gunfire from officers.
Mr Humphrey said at an 11am press conference that at “approximately 8.30 this morning, Louisville MetroSafe received a report of shots fired and a possible active shooter at 333 East Main Street at the Old National Bank”.
“Within three minutes of being dispatched, officers arrived on scene and encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gun gunshots,” he said. “Officers exchanged gunshots with that suspect and ultimately the suspect did die at the scene. We're trying to confirm if the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was killed by officers at this time.”
“At least two officers were shot during this exchange of gunfire,” Mr Humphrey said. “One is currently in surgery at University Louisville Hospital.”
“At least four more victims were confirmed to be deceased inside the location as well as eight that are now currently being treated at the University Hospital – two are critical, one of those being the officer,” the deputy chief said.
He added that the processing of the scene would continue “into the night”.
WKLY reported later that nine people had been taken to hospital and that three had been able to leave.
Mr Humphrey said there’s no “active threat” and that the shooter is believed to be a “lone gunman”, adding that he “did have a connection to the bank”.
“We’re trying to establish what their connection was to the business but it appears he was a previous employee,” he said, later adding that he may have been currently employed at the bank in some form.
“It is clear from the officers’ response that they absolutely saved people's lives. This is 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,” he said.
Mayor Craig Greenberg told the press that “I want everyone in the city to know that notwithstanding tragedies like today, multiple people are killed by gun violence. Notwithstanding tragedies when individuals are killed by gun violence, our community will continue to come together”.
“We will find ways to love and support one another and the families and friends who have been directly impacted by these acts of gun violence. And we will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state,” he added.
“LMPD made it to this scene in a matter of minutes after receiving the call and there is no doubt in my mind that their efforts saved lives and they put their own on the line,” Governor Andy Beshear said.
He grew emotional when he spoke at the briefing, saying that he had “a very close friend who 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”.
“So when we talk about praying, I hope people will for those that we are hoping can make it through the surgeries that they're going through. And then we've got to do what we have done these last three years after everything – We've got to wrap our arms around these families and everybody who needs it,” Mr Beshear said.
“Don't be afraid to get some help,” he added. “Our bodies and our minds are not meant to go through these types of tragedies 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 reach out for help when they need it.”
“I hope every one of those bank employees and folks in that building one that I know well and my [attorney general] campaign was out of that building. Virtually everyone in it, that's my bank. I hope that they will all reach out and get the help that they need,” the governor said.
WLKY reported that the husband of an employee at Old National Bank received a call from his spouse from inside the vault during the active shooting.
“I got a call from my wife panicking that she was locked in the vault, that there was an active shooter in the building and call 911. By the time I got a hold of 911, they were already aware of it,” Caleb Goodlett told the local TV station.
“I was approaching the scene right as the first officers were approaching the scene. No time wasted – they attempted to breach the building first. They were unsuccessful on the first breach. They backed off, pushed us back,” he said. “We got people out of their cars in the middle of the street. And then we saw another round go back into the building. We heard multiple shots and then everything got quiet.”
Mr Goodlett said “I've never been a part of this” before.
“You know, you watch the news. You see everything go down. You think of how you would handle this situation ... within your family. Me and her have had that conversation several times. Hit the panic button, go to the vault. Don’t fight, don't do anything, lock yourself up, hide, and let it go,” he said.
Two unnamed officials also told NBC News that the shooting is being investigated as a workplace violence situation by an employee who suffered from mental health issues.
