Chief: Outlook ‘hopeful’ for officer hit in mass capturing

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A rookie police officer who was shot within the head whereas responding to the mass capturing at a Louisville financial institution remained in important however steady situation Tuesday morning, the police chief mentioned.

“It’s looking hopeful,” Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel informed WDRB-TV about Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had graduated from coaching simply 10 days earlier.

She mentioned Wilt and different officers “unflinchingly” engaged the shooter at Old National Bank and stopped him from killing extra individuals.

Authorities mentioned Tuesday that the investigation into the capturing was persevering with and physique digital camera video will probably be launched later.

Connor Sturgeon, 25, an worker of the financial institution, opened fireplace with a rifle at his office Monday morning, killing 5 individuals – together with a detailed good friend of Kentucky’s governor – whereas livestreaming the assault on Instagram, authorities mentioned. Another eight individuals have been wounded.

Police arrived as pictures have been nonetheless being fired contained in the constructing and killed the shooter, Gwinn-Villaroel mentioned.

PHOTOS: Chief: Outlook ‘hopeful’ for officer hit in mass capturing

“The act of heroism can’t be overstated on yesterday. They did what they were called to do. They answered that call to protect and serve,” she mentioned.

The capturing, the fifteenth mass killing within the nation this 12 months, comes simply two weeks after a former scholar killed three kids and three adults at a Christian elementary faculty in Nashville, Tennessee, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) to the south. That state’s governor and his spouse additionally had associates killed in that capturing.

Four of the injured remained hospitalized Tuesday – one in important situation and three in steady however truthful situation, University of Louisville Hospital mentioned in an announcement.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear mentioned he misplaced one in all his closest associates within the capturing.

“Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,” mentioned Beshear, his voice shaking with emotion. “He’s one of the people I talked to most in the world, and very rarely were we talking about my job. He was an incredible friend.”

Also killed within the capturing have been Josh Barrick, Jim Tutt, Juliana Farmer and Deana Eckert, police mentioned.

“There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured,” Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan mentioned in an announcement.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg informed WDRB-TV that his focus shifting ahead can be on attempting to unify residents within the metropolis.