NEW YORK (AP) — A person who opened fireplace at a Louisville financial institution, killing 5 co-workers, had confronted psychological well being issues during the last yr, however the state of affairs gave the impression to be managed till simply days earlier than the capturing, his mom stated.
In an interview with NBC’s “Today” present that aired Thursday, Lisa Sturgeon stated her 25-year-old son, Connor, known as her April 4, six days earlier than the capturing on the Old National Bank within the metropolis’s downtown. He stated a panic assault compelled him to go away work, and he thought he ought to take day off for some time.
Lisa and Todd Sturgeon stated their son’s psychological well being wrestle started a yr earlier with panic assaults, anxiousness and a suicide try, however he was seeing a psychiatrist and taking medicine, “Today” reported.
Lisa Sturgeon stated they’d lunch the day after he known as, and she or he arrange a psychiatrist appointment and joined him there.
“We thought he was coming out of the crisis,” Lisa Sturgeon stated.
When the Sturgeons noticed their son for the final time at a household gathering on Easter Sunday, a day earlier than the assault, he was serving to folks discover the final eggs within the egg hunt and joking, Todd Sturgeon stated.
The subsequent morning, Lisa Sturgeon stated her son’s roommate known as saying Connor instructed him by cellphone: “I’m going to go in and shoot up Old National.” She known as 911, however her son was already on the financial institution.
Police stated Connor Sturgeon purchased the AR-15 assault-style rifle used within the assault at an area dealership on April 4, the identical day that Lisa Sturgeon stated he instructed her concerning the panic assault. He killed 5 coworkers whereas livestreaming earlier than police fatally shot him.
The 5 financial institution workers killed within the capturing have been Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice chairman; Deana Eckert, 57, an government administrative officer; Tommy Elliott, 63, additionally a senior vice chairman; Juliana Farmer, 45, a mortgage analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a business actual property market government.
Eight others have been injured, together with a police officer who was shot within the head.
The Sturgeons expressed their sorrow.
“We are so sorry. We are heartbroken,” she stated. “We wish we could undo it, but we know we can’t.”
The Sturgeons stated their son shouldn’t have been capable of purchase the rifle due to his psychological state. They have been instructed that their son, who was seeing two psychological well being professionals, was capable of stroll into the shop and stroll out with the weapon and ammunition in 40 minutes, Todd Sturgeon stated.
“If there had been a delay or something of that nature, that would have been helpful,” Lisa Sturgeon stated.
Todd Sturgeon acknowledged that the problem is difficult, balancing defending towards the menace whereas being acutely aware of particular person rights and liberties.
“We have really smart people in this country and there’s no reason why we can’t find a solution to this problem,” he stated.
While the households of 4 of the victims declined to remark, Barrick’s household stated in a press release to “Today” that the capturing “didn’t have to happen.”
“The fact that anyone can walk in and buy a semiautomatic weapon, its only purpose being to kill many in seconds, is simply wrong. Enough is enough. Inaction is not an option,” the assertion learn. “We deserve to be safe in our communities — whether that be at the bank, the grocery store, our schools, or anywhere else.”
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com