Police: Kentucky bank shooter wrote in journal about ease of buying assault weapon before killings
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The man who fatally shot five coworkers at a Louisville bank in April wrote in his diary that he wasn’t sure whether his mental health issues would keep him from buying a gun and later, after purchasing one just days before he mass shooting. , noted how easy the transaction turned out to be.
Connor Sturgeon’s diary entries are included in a 64-page report released Tuesday by Louisville police, in which authorities say they have now closed their investigation into the actions of the 25-year-old who was also killed in a shootout that day with authorities.
Sturgeon wrote that it was “so easy” to buy the assault rifle, a Radical Firearms RF-15, at a gun store in Louisville, according to the police file. He bought the rifle, 120 rounds of ammunition and four magazine rounds six days before the shooting for $700, and the process took about 45 minutes, he said.
“Seriously, I knew it would be doable, but this is ridiculous,” he wrote.
He also acknowledged that he was struggling with mental illness and said he was dissatisfied with his job and the direction his life was taking. He wrote that he was “very ill” and suggested that he had lied about his health to avoid further treatment or hospitalization.
The April 10 shootings began when Sturgeon opened fire in a conference room in the high-rise bank building downtown. One of the first officers to respond was struck in the head and seriously injured. Another officer shot and killed the gunman in the lobby.
According to the report, Sturgeon fired more than 40 rounds in about eight minutes. Investigators noted that it appeared he “did not have a good understanding” of how to operate the weapon.
The report noted that investigators found no “evidence of long-term planning,” although his diaries did contain references to what he had planned to do in the days before. Investigators also found no evidence that he conducted extensive online searches related to gun violence.
Sturgeon’s family has said they plan to sue the maker of the rifle used in the attack. His parents said his mental health problems had started a year earlier with panic attacks, anxiety and a suicide attempt, but he saw a psychiatrist and took medication.
His mother, Lisa Sturgeon, said his roommate called her the morning of the shooting to say Sturgeon had told him over the phone, “I’m going to go in and shoot Old National.” She called 911, but her son was already at the bank.
The five employees killed were Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer; Tommy Elliott, 63, also senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, loan analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate executive. Elliott was a close personal friend of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.
Eight others were injured, including Nickolas Wilt, the officer shot in the head and who was released from hospital in late July after months of rehabilitation.
According to the report, Sturgeon was shot twice in the right arm, once in the left leg and once in the head by an officer.
Investigators determined that the actions of the officer who shot Sturgeon were not criminal, the report said.