In a tragic incident, four individuals were killed, and another eight were injured when a gunman, believed to be a former employee, opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, according to the police.
The shooter entered the Old National Bank near Slugger Field at approximately 8:30 a.m. and began firing, as reported by the Louisville Metro Police Department. Police officers arrived at the scene within minutes, engaging in a shootout with the attacker.
The assailant was killed during the confrontation, though it remains uncertain whether he took his own life or was fatally shot by the officers. Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey of the LMPD stated that the investigation is ongoing.
Two of the injured individuals were police officers, one of whom is in critical condition at the University of Louisville Hospital. The conditions of the other wounded victims have not yet been disclosed.
While the identities of the deceased have not been officially released, an emotional Governor Andy Beshear revealed at a press conference that a close friend of his had been killed, and another had been injured in the mass shooting. He expressed his hope that his injured friend would recover.
Witnesses told local news outlet WHAS11 that they saw a man armed with a "long assault rifle" firing multiple shots on the bank building's first floor. One witness recounted the harrowing experience, stating, "I didn't see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood's on me."
Video footage from the scene depicted shattered glass and a blown-out window at the bank. At the time of the shooting, the bank was not open to the public.
A driver identified as Debbie told WDRB that she was stopped at a traffic light outside the bank when she saw a man who appeared injured on the entrance steps. After hearing gunshots, she immediately drove away, noticing a blown-out window in the bank. Law enforcement quickly swarmed the area, with officers armed with rifles emerging from their vehicles.
