Chilling photo shows Louisville gunman grinning beside co-worker who survived massacre

A photo has emerged showing the US bank mass shooter next to a colleague who came so close to death he was splattered with blood.

A chilling photo has emerged showing US bank shooter Connor Sturgeon grinning while posing next to a co-worker who would go on to escape the gunman’s rampage.

A chilling photo has emerged showing US bank shooter Connor Sturgeon grinning while posing next to a co-worker who would go on to escape the gunman’s rampage so narrowly who would was splattered with a victim’s blood.

Five people died and nine were injured when Sturgeon opened fire within the Old National Bank building in Kentucky’s largest city of Louisville, on Monday.

According to CNN, Sturgeon was aware his position was about to be terminated, and he wrote a note to his family and a friend before heading to work as usual on Monday morning and then opening fire during a staff meeting.

The fatalities have been identified as Tommy Elliott, 63, Jim Tutt, 64, Joshua Barrick, 40, Juliana Farmer, 45, and Deanna Eckert, 57.

Two of the injured were police officers, one of whom was hospitalised in critical condition and underwent surgery.

Police tape surrounds the Old National Bank after a gunman opened fire on April 10, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Swensen / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

In an image taken in September, months before the massacre, 25-year-old Sturgeon is seen at a construction site while apparently taking part in a volunteer program organised by his employer, reported the New York Post.

Sturgeon is seated next to two men, all dressed in blue T-shirts with the slogan “Better Together” emblazoned across the front.

The future mass shooter appears relaxed and wears an easy smile on his bearded face.

One of the young banker’s companions seen in the photo is his colleague Troy Haste, a regional account executive at Old National Bank.

A picture from last year showing Connor Sturgeon (far left) and Tony Haste (far right).

Mr Haste was in the first-floor conference room early on Monday morning when he said Sturgeon walked in brandishing a long assault rifle and opened fire on his co-workers.

Mr Haste was able to get away unscathed but was flecked with victims’ blood as he fled to safety.

A visibly shaken Mr Haste, with droplets of dried blood still clinging to the back of his shirt, later told the news station WHAS1 about the harrowing ordeal.

Tony Haste showing the blood from a victim on his shirt.

“He just started firing. I didn’t see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood’s on me,” Mr Haste said.

He fled to a break room and shut the door behind him. While briefly sheltering in place, the bank executive said he could see Sturgeon still firing his rifle while livestreaming the rampage on Instagram.

Mr Haste then ran out of the building to safety.

An undated image of Connor Sturgeon. Picture: Facebook/Lisa Sturgeon

The murderer left a note for his parents.

Police responded to the scene in downtown Louisville around 8.30am (10.30pm AEST) while the shooter was still on a rampage, leaving five people dead and eight others injured.

Sturgeon was killed during a confrontation with police officers, who engaged the 25-year-old gunman.

Juliana Farmer, one of four victims gunned down by Connor Sturgeon. Picture: Facebook/Juliana Farmer

Joshua Barrick was another of the victims. Picture: Supplied

Police have yet to determine an official motive for the mass shooting, but CNN reported that Sturgeon had recently learned that he was about to be fired from the bank, where he had been employed since 2021, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He reportedly left a note for his parents and a friend revealing his plan to shoot up his place of work.

This story appeared in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.