A gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, leaving five dead and wounding eight others, including a responding police officer, authorities said.
The attacker was killed not long after the 8:30 a.m. ET shooting unfolded at the Old National Bank on East Main Street, Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said.
Responding officers exchanged gunfire with the gunman, police said, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the shooter died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted wound.
Gov. Andy Beshear fought back tears, telling reporters at least one of the dead was a friend of his.
“This is awful,” Beshear said. “I have a very close friend who didn’t make it today, and I have another close friend who didn’t either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.”
The gunman is believed to be an employee and may have had mental health issues, according to a federal law enforcement source who has been briefed on the attack.
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The wounded were rushed to the University of Louisville Hospital, Humphrey said. Their conditions were unknown.
Louisville police had earlier urged the public to stay away from the area.
“LMPD has confirmed a shooting situation in downtown Louisville with multiple casualties,” Gov. Beshear tweeted. “I am headed there now. Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville.”
Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks flooded Main Street between North Floyd and North Preston Streets, in the heart of Kentucky’s largest city.
The incident unfolded in the shadows of Slugger Field, home of the Cincinnati Reds triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats.
“Please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice,” Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in an early statement.
Monday’s gunfire was the latest mass shooting in America and just two weeks after six people, including three young children, were gunned down at a private Christian school in Nashville.
This is a developing story. Please refresh here for updates.
Chloe Atkins, Ken Dilanian and Jonathan Dienst contributed.
