One year after tragedy: Old National Bank shooting

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WTVQ) — Its been a year since the deadly mass shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, the shooting claiming the lives of five, and injuring eight others, including LMPD officer, Nickolas Wilt.

Our lives are changed forever by a senseless, unthinkable, brutal act of violence that has certainly hit me. And so many of you at your core. It shook this community. And it shook our Commonwealth. That’s the day we lost Josh. Giuliana. Jim, Deanna, and Tommy,” said Governor Andy Beshear.

Irreplaceable Kentuckians in Governor Beshear’s eyes, the shooting claiming the life of one of his dear friend, Tommy Elliott.

“I remember seeing David James, and starting the question, and him shaking his head. That’s how I learned that I lost a really great friend. And then I remember doing one of the toughest things in my life, which is called a Marianne because she, she deserved to know,” reflected Beshear.

In addition to the five that were killed that morning, eight others were injured.
Including officer Cory Galloway and officer Nickolas Wilt.
Officer Wilt surviving a gunshot wound to the head.

“We talked about officer Wilt his bravery and his sacrifice rightfully a lot. But I want to mention officer Galloway charging into a hail of gunfire to see my friends, and had they not gotten there when they had I know the situation would have been much worse,” added Beshear.

The shooting, happening during a morning meeting.
Investigators say the alleged gunman, Connor Sturgeon, was killed after exchanging gunfire with police.
A year later, advocates of the Kentucky Chapter of Moms Demand Action say laws to help prevent gun violence have not changed.

“We believe that we just need to get a new legislature, we need to find people that are interested in gun violence prevention, and elect those people to work with our governor. I think that that’s a big part of the problem is that the people that are there now are not that interested in this issue,” said Cathy Hobart of Moms Demand Action says the group will continue to work until the day where gun violence is no longer a problem.

“We keep moving forward together, because it is a group effort, and, you know, we always say it’s going to take all of us working together. And it’s not just all of us Moms Demand Action, it’s all of us as a, as a community, as a culture, that are going to have to work together to, to just change this attitude that we have about accepting gun violence as a natural part of life. We don’t have to live like this,” she adds.

Meantime an emotional Governor Beshear, it certainly tested every part of me, including my faith, which I think I said a couple days later was shaken but not broken. And I continue to believe with all my heart that while the body is mortal, the soul is eternal.”

Other speakers included Mayor of Louisville Craig Greenberg, Jim Ryan, CEO, Old National Bank, Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer, UofL Health.