By Jack Phillips
Officials with the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department in Kentucky confirmed Monday morning that five people died following “reports of an active aggressor” near a bank.
Louisville Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said in a news conference that five died and six were injured, including one officer, with various injuries. The suspect was killed, the official said.
“This is an ongoing investigation. This information is preliminary,” Humphrey told reporters, adding that there is “no active danger” to the public. Humphrey said he does not have information on the status of the hospitalized victims.
Louisville police said calls came in from the Old National Bank at around 8:30 a.m. ET. They described the suspect as a “lone shooter,” who “is deceased.” It’s not clear if the suspect was shot by police or died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
The FBI’s Louisville office wrote on Twitter that “special agents have responded to the scene of this morning’s shooting in downtown Louisville and are assisting our law enforcement partners.” Other officials called on residents to stay away from the downtown area.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also stated there was an “active police situation downtown,” telling the public to “please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice.”
Officials told local media that a shooting occurred at the Old National Bank building in downtown Louisville. Witnesses told WHAS-TV that they heard gunfire inside the building, while officers were heard yelling, “Active shooter at the bank.”
A witness told WHAS-TV that a male suspect with a rifle started opening fire on the first floor of the building.
“He just started firing,” the witness told the outlet. “I didn’t see his face. We were in the conference room. Whoever was next to me got shot, their blood’s on me.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter that he was heading to the scene. “Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville,” Beshear wrote.
Video footage shows a massive police presence around the downtown area, while agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) also were seen responding.
More details about the incident were not immediately available.
Louisville, located near Kentucky’s border with Indiana, has a population of approximately 630,000 people. The block of the shooting area is located near the minor league stadium, Louisville Slugger Field.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.
