Police release bodycam footage from the Louisville mass shooting

The details of a mass shooter’s final text message to his family just minutes before he went on a deadly shooting rampage at a US bank have been made public.

The gunman who went on a deadly shooting rampage inside a US bank sent a text message to his family just minutes before the massacre, saying “I love you”.

A lawyer for Connor Sturgeon’s family revealed the 25-year-old killer’s final message of affection before he stormed into the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, with an assault rifle and opened fire on his colleagues, killing five people and wounding eight others, on Monday.

Sturgeon was reportedly suicidal and on the verge of getting fired from the bank when he carried out the mass shooting. He was killed by police responding to the attack.

Police body camera footage from the rampage was released late on Tuesday after the victims’ family members were given the opportunity to view it first.

Sturgeon began his deadly rampage on Monday by shooting a teller in the back after the greeted him with “good morning”, according to his Instagram livestream

Police have released bodycam footage of the Louisville mass shooting. Picture: supplied

At least five people were killed during the Louisville mass shooting. Picture: Supplied

The killer’s now-deleted livestream — which News Corp Australia has not been able to independently review and verify — reportedly opens with a shot from his assault rifle as a female worker inside the bank says “good morning” to him.

“You need to get out of here,” Sturgeon tells the woman in the video, then tries to shoot her in the back when she turns to flee.

The condition of some victims are still unknown. Picture: Supplied.

His first attempt to gun down the woman fails because the safety on his rifle is still on and it is not yet loaded, according to the official speaking to CNN.

After Sturgeon removes the safety and loads the rifle, he takes aim at the woman who greeted him just moments earlier and strikes her in the back. Her condition is unknown.

The shooter purchased his AR-15 style rifle legally. Picture: Supplied.

The Louisville mass shooter legally bought an AR-15-style rifle at a local gun dealership six days before he used it to kill five of his colleagues at a downtown bank, the interim Louisville Metro Police chief said Tuesday.

The shooter is just 25 years old. Picture: Supplied.

Officials in the Louisville case executed a search warrant at Sturgeon’s home, but interim Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel declined to say what was found.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, killed at least four people and nine others injured, in the attack. Picture: Facebook/Lisa Sturgeon

PIC SHOWS GUNMAN SMILING NEXT TO VICTIM WHO SURVIVED MASSACRE

Meanwhile, a chilling photo has emerged showing Sturgeon grinning while posing next to a co-worker who would go on to survive the mass shooting.

In the image taken in September, months before the massacre, the 25-year-old Sturgeon is seen at a construction site while apparently taking part in a volunteer program organised by his employer, Old National Bank, the NY Post reports.

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

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

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

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

Sturgeon livestreamed his attack that left five people dead and at least eight others injured in the US state of Kentucky.

This photo taken in September 2022 shows Louisville mass shooter Connor Sturgeon (left) smiling while doing volunteer work. The man on the far right is his colleague Troy Haste.

Kentucky bank attacker Connor Sturgeon. Picture: Linkedin

The shooter died in the assault, according to US police. Officials identified Sturgeon as a current employee of the bank.

He joined the bank as a commercial development professional in 2021 and a full-time associate and portfolio banker last year, according to his LinkedIn account.

Police were called to the Old National Bank in Louisville to reports of an “active aggressor”.

After arriving on the scene within “minutes,” officers “encountered the suspect almost immediately, still firing gun shots.”

Sturgeon was shot and killed by police after he aimed his rifle at them, police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said.

He had been told he was going to be fired from the bank, according to CNN, who also reported he had left a note for his parents and a friend saying he was going to shoot up the bank.

At least five other people were killed in the bank and eight were being treated for injuries at University of Louisville hospital, including two officers who were wounded in the exchange of gunfire, Mr Humphrey said.

Law enforcement officers respond to an active shooter at the Old National Bank building. Picture: AFP

Two people were in critical condition, including one of the officers.

“It is clear from the officers’ response that they absolutely saved people’s lives,” said Mr Humphrey.

Tommy Elliot.

Joshua Barrick. Picture: Supplied

Jim Tutt. Picture: Supplied

Juliana Farmer.

Police identified the victims as several high ranking individuals at the Old National Bank, including Tommy Elliott, 63, a senior vice president and personal friend of Governor Andy Beshear.

The others were identified as Jim Tutt, 64, a market executive, Joshua Barrick, 40, another senior vice president, and Juliana Farmer, 45, a commercial loan specialist.

A fifth victim – Deana Eckert, 57 – died later in hospital.

“We believe this is a lone gunman involved in this, that did have a connection to the bank,” Humphrey said, adding that “it appears he was a previous employee.”

The shooter is thought to be a disgruntled former employee. Picture: AFP

The incident triggered a massive police deployment outside the Old National bank building.

CNN reported that some people had been able to take refuge in the bank vault and lock themselves in — contacting police from inside.

Fox affiliate WDRB cited a witness saying she heard multiple gunshots and breaking glass while in her car at an intersection near the site.

“Gunfire erupted, like, right over my head,” said the woman, who gave her name only as Debbie. “When I turned, I saw that one of the windows in the bank had been blown out,” she added.

Governor Andy Beshear tweeted: “Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville.”

GUNMAN WAS ALL-ROUND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE

In the hours after the deadly shooting, the 25-year-old gunman was revealed to have been an all-round athlete, playing basketball, football and competing on the running track.

His father was the head coach of the Floyd Central High School, a former classmate told The Daily Beast.

The former classmate said Sturgeon used to wear a helmet during basketball because of the concussions he sustained on the football field.

“We played football together in eighth grade. He was out most of the year because he had multiple concussions,” he said. “Then he had a couple more in high school.”

The carnage marked the 146th mass shooting this year with four or more victims, not including a gunman, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

With AFP

Originally published as Police release bodycam footage from the Louisville mass shooting