…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been deeply affected by the shooting that killed one of his close friends, Tommy Elliott, in a Louisville bank shooting that left five people dead.
Elliott, 63, was the bank’s senior vice president and a former campaign chair who had donated to many Democratic candidates over the years, including Beshear’s gubernatorial campaign in 2018.
In a recent interview, the governor expressed his outrage over the incident and his grief over Elliott’s death.
Despite the pain and anger he feels toward the shooter, 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, Beshear still expressed empathy for the killer’s parents.
Details of the Shooting Incident
Sturgeon stormed into a conference room at the Old National Bank on E Main St with an AR-15 rifle shortly after 8:30 am on Monday, around half an hour before the branch opened to the public.
He killed five people, including Elliott, and injured eight others before being fatally shot by a Louisville Metro Police Department officer, Cory Galloway.
Beshear’s other close friends and colleagues, Joshua Barrick, James Tutt, and Juliana Farmer, were also among the victims.
All five were senior executives at the bank.
Beshear Remembers Elliott
Beshear and Elliott had a close relationship, and the governor had to inform Elliott’s wife of his passing.
In the interview, Beshear shared that Elliott had a great smile, loved life, and was always trying to make the city a better place.
The two were even planning for Beshear’s future beyond his governorship.
Despite his anger over the shooting, Beshear chose to remember Elliott as a loving husband and father.
Calls for Gun Control
Beshear supports the implementation of red flag gun laws, which allow the courts to take firearms from those who are deemed a danger to themselves or others.
However, he doesn’t see it as likely to happen while Republicans maintain control of the legislature
While he admitted it may not have stopped Sturgeon, Beshear believes that red flag laws could prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
Impact on the Bank and Its Employees
Jim Ryan, CEO of the Old National Bank, expressed his sadness and devastation over the loss of their team members and their prayers for the recovery of all those who were injured.
The shooting has left the bank’s employees and the Louisville community traumatized, and the bank has offered counseling and support to those who need it.
Final Thoughts
The shooting in Louisville is a tragic reminder of the need for stricter gun control laws in the United States.
It has also shown the impact that such incidents have on the families and friends of the victims, as well as the wider community.
Governor Beshear’s tribute to his close friend highlights the human cost of such tragedies and the importance of empathy and compassion in the face of extreme violence.