LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Recorded 911 calls released Wednesday by police showed chaos and fear after a man opened fire on his coworkers at Old National Bank, killing five people and injuring eight others.
Authorities got calls from people inside the building, people who watched the shooting on a bank livestream and the shooter’s mother, among others.
In one call released Wednesday, a woman working at a different branch of Old National Bank in Louisville frantically asked for help at 333 Main Street. At the time of the attack, she said employees were watching a board meeting with the bank’s commercial team that was being streamed online.
“I see somebody on the floor,” she says between tears. “We heard multiple shots, and everybody started saying, ‘Oh my God,’ and then he came into the board room.”
Another woman called authorities as she was hiding inside a conference room closet. Her voice just above a whisper, she told the dispatcher that she recognized the shooter as one of her coworkers.
In the background of the call, several gunshots can be heard.
“Just stay quiet and stay where you’re at, OK?” the dispatcher says.
After the dispatcher asks about what kind of injuries there are, the woman says, “I don’t know. I just saw a lot of blood.”
For the next several minutes, the woman stays on the line with the dispatcher. About 10 minutes after she first placed the call, she begins to yell, “Help.”
“Is that the responders?” the dispatcher says.
“Yes. Yeah. Yeah,” she answers.
Police said Old National Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, shot several of his coworkers, killing James “Jim” Tutt, 64; Thomas “Tommy” Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45 and Joshua “Josh” Barrick, 40. Deana Eckert, 57, later died of her injuries at a hospital, officials said.
Sturgeon’s mother was among the people who called authorities. She said her son’s roommate told her that he had a gun and was heading toward the bank.
“I don’t know what to do. I need your help,” she says. Later she adds, “He’s never hurt, anyone. He’s a really good kid. … Please, he’s not violent. He’s never done anything. Please.”
Toward the end of the call, she asks for advice on what to do next.
“What do I do? Just go there?”
“No, I don’t want you to go to the location,” the dispatcher says. “We have a situation that’s going on down there right now, we’ve already had calls from other people, and I do not need you to go to the location at this time, OK? It’s dangerous there. I’m advising you not to go to the location.”
Police said Sturgeon livestreamed the shooting Monday before he was confronted by police officers who shot and killed him. Eight people were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the head and hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities continue to investigate.
