Hero Louisville shooting cop ran toward gunfire and had only just started job

11 April 2023 , 03:37

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Officer Nickolas Wilt had recently been sworn in (Image: AP)

A policeman was shot in the head while running towards gunfire, as a former banker opened fire on his ex-colleagues.

Connor Sturgeon, 23, was armed with an AR-15 rifle when he took to a Louisville bank yesterday, shooting and killing five people.

The five deceased victims have been identified as Joshua Barrick, 40, Thomas Elliot, 63, Juliana Farmer, 45, James Tutt, 64, and Deana Eckert, 57. At least eight others have been taken to hospital for treatment, with the LMPD confirming that 13 people, including two officers, had been shot.

One officer was newly recruited Nickolas Wilt, 26, who had recently graduated and been sworn into the force.

An officer was injured in a shooting at the Old National Bank, Louisville (Getty Images)

Upon arriving at the scene, Sturgeon turned the weapon toward the officers. Wilt suffered a gunshot wound to the head upon stopping Sturgeon, and was subsequently rushed to hospital where he underwent brain surgery. He remains in critical condition.

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LMPD tweeted: “Officer Nickolas Wilt, a new officer to the LMPD, ran towards the gunfire today to save lives. He remains in critical condition after being shot in the head.”

It added the following tweet, confirming that Wilt had been the officer who stopped Sturgeon: “The name of our Officer who was critically wounded while stopping the active shooter: Officer Nickolas Wilt, a new officer to the LMPD recently sworn in.”

Connor Sturgeon was recently let go from Old National Bank (AFP via Getty Images)

It has been reported that Sturgeon had recently been let go from the Old National Bank.

He joined the bank full-time in 2021, after three consecutive summer internships.

There have also been multiple reports online of the young banker reportedly telling a friend he was feeling suicidal and would "shoot up the bank".

It's believed that Sturgeon used an AR-15 style rifle to carry out the attack inside the bank. Deputy Chief Col. Paul Humphrey, of Louisville Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD) said police were called to the Old National Bank in Louisville where the "lone gunman" was shooting inside the building.

Armed police were seen entering the building in response to the shooting (AP)

Armed police reportedly forced their way into the building as workers were said to have sought refuge inside a vault.

An eyewitness who was walking home from the gym at about 8.30am said he saw police cars speeding the wrong way down Main Street toward the bank.

He said he saw about 20 officers get out, rifles raised, before they rushed into the building. He then said he heard 10-15 shots being fired, and the sound of people screaming from within the building.

Sophie Goodall