Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear choked up in a TV interview as he paid tribute to one of his close friends killed along with four others in the Louisville bank shooting on Monday.
Beshear, one of only two Democrat governors in the south, has been public with his outrage over the killing of his friend and former campaign chair, Tommy Elliott, 63, who died in the tragedy.
As he fought back tears, he also expressed empathy for the parents of 25-year-old killer, Connor Sturgeon.
‘This person murdered my friend. But still, I can’t imagine what his parents must be feeling right now,’ Beshear told CNN Wednesday.
Sturgeon was employed as a syndications associate and portfolio banker at the Old National for two years before the atrocity, during which he was gunned down by LMPD cop, Cory Galloway.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (pictured) choked up as he spoke Wednesday of his heartache over one of his closest friends, who was among the five killed in the Louisville bank shooting Monday
He stormed into a conference room at the Old National Bank with an AR-15 rifle shortly after 8.30am – around half an hour before the branch opened to the public.
Elliott, the bank’s senior vice president, had donated $2,000 to Beshear’s gubernatorial campaign in 2018 and had donated to many Democratic candidates over the years.
He was well known in local and state Democratic circles and served on Beshear’s inaugural committee in 2019.
That’s not how Beshear wanted people to think of him in the Wednesday evening interview.
‘Man, he had a great smile. His eyes lit up. Loved life. Was always into something. Trying to make the city a better place, he was just always into something,’ he said.
He wanted people to think of Elliott as a loving husband and father, noting that he was the one who told Elliott’s wife that he had passed.
‘I knew it would be hours before others could call her. And I thought she deserved to know, and we’re close right now to where I made that call,’ he said.
Beshear, who faces re-election in deep red Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott were plotting out the Democrat’s next steps whenever he finished being governor.
Thomas Elliott, 63, one of Governor Andy Beshear’s closest friends, died Monday morning in the mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky
Beshear, who faces re-election in deep red Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott were plotting out the Democrat’s next steps whenever he finished being governor
Connor Sturgeon killed five people – former colleagues at Old National Bank – before he was shot dead by police on Monday
‘He was trying to plan for me for when I’m done being governor, which was something that I hoped we could eventually plan for together,’ Beshear said. ‘An amazing human being, a loving dad.’
Beshear said that while he was in favor of ‘red flag’ gun laws – which allow the courts to take firearms from those dubbed a danger to themselves or others – he didn’t see it as likely while Republicans maintain control of the legislature.
While he admitted it may not have stopped Sturgeon on his rampage, it may help someone in the future.
‘At least it lets us stop that next individual – at least when we know – before they murder people,’ he said. ‘And, listen, I know people will say that wouldn’t have stopped this situation. And it probably wouldn’t have. Maybe it will the next one. I don’t want another family to go through this.’
The death of Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank and a mother of two, was confirmed on Monday evening by Louisville police.
All five were senior executives at the bank.
Tommy Elliott, 63, a close friend of Governor Andy Beshear, was named among those killed, as were Joshua Barrick, 40; James ‘Jim’ Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57.
They were declared dead at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
The five were murdered by their former colleague Connor Sturgeon, 25, when he stormed a conference room at Old National Bank at 8.30am – half an hour before the branch opened to the public.
Jim Ryan, CEO of the bank, said on Monday evening: ‘There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured.’
Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank, was declared dead on Monday evening
James ‘Jim’ Tutt, 64 (left), was a market executive at Old National Bank, while Joshua Barrick, 40 (right) was vice president of commercial real estate
Juliana Farmer, 57, a loan analyst at the regional firm, was a mother and grandmother
Ryan continued: ‘Obviously, this is an incredibly difficult situation, and our entire focus is on making sure that everyone affected has the support and assistance they need.
‘On behalf of everyone at Old National, I also want to acknowledge and thank Louisville law enforcement, the medical community and state and local officials for their incredible response to this tragedy.
‘And finally, we ask you to please continue to pray for all those affected.’
Tutt was a commercial real estate executive for the southern region of Old National Bank.
Barrick, who appears to have a wife and two young children, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at the bank, where he had worked since last August, according to his LinkedIn.
Farmer – a mother and grandmother – was a loan analyst at the regional firm.
Sturgeon’s mother made a frantic phone call to 911, telling the operator that her son ‘currently has a gun and is heading toward’ the bank where he killed five people. Authorities released the calls on Wednesday.
Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault-style rifle in the attack Monday at Old National Bank, where he livestreamed the massacre before police fatally shot him.
Eight other people were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the head and remains hospitalized in critical condition.
In the call made by a woman who identified herself as Sturgeon’s mother, Lisa, she told the operator: ‘He’s never hurt anyone; he’s a really good kid. Please don’t punish him… He’s non violent; he’s never done anything wrong.’
She told the operator that her son’s roommate, Dallas Whalen, had found a note and called her.
Connor Sturgeon pictured right with his father, Todd, mother, Lisa, and his younger brother Cameron
The Louisville shooter (seen here on his prom night) killed five people and injured at least seven during the bank shooting
Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault-style rifle in the attack Monday at Old National Bank, where he killed five coworkers while livestreaming before police fatally shot him
Lisa was told by the operator that they had received multiple 911 calls about the shooting. ‘So he’s already there?’ Sturgeon’s mother asked, adding: ‘I’m sorry, I’m trying to get to my car… I’m shaking.’
The operator then advised that she stay away from the scene of the shooting.
During the call, Lisa also speculated that her son may have gotten his gun from his girlfriend. ‘I don’t know where he would have gotten a gun. He must’ve gotten it from his girlfriend or something.’
Later, she said: ‘I think maybe his girlfriend may have had a gun. I don’t know, maybe he saw them.’
Authorities believe Sturgeon bought the gun around a week before the massacre.
None of the callers were identified by name and other information was edited out of the calls, but the first message that came in was from a woman who was on a video call inside the bank.
She screamed and cried throughout the four-minute call and said there was an active shooter at the downtown branch of the bank.