Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear choked in a television interview as he paid tribute to one of his close friends who was killed along with four others in the Louisville bank shooting on Monday.
Beshear, one of only two conservative Democrats in the South, has been public about his outrage over the killing of his friend and former campaign chairman, Tommy Elliott, 63, who died in the tragedy.
As he fought back tears, he also expressed sympathy for the parents of 25-year-old killer Connor Sturgeon.
This person killed my friend. But still, I can’t imagine what his parents are feeling right now,” Bashir said CNN Wednesday.
Sturgeon had been working as a union assistant and purse banker at the Old National for two years prior to the atrocity, during which he was shot and killed by LMPD cop, Cory Galloway.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (pictured) choked as he spoke Wednesday of his grief for one of his closest friends, who was among the five killed in the Louisville bank shooting on Monday.
Sturgeon’s fish stormed into a bank meeting room on E Main St with an AR-15 rifle shortly after 8.30am – about half an hour before the branch opened to the public.
Elliott, the bank’s senior vice president, donated $2,000 to Beshear’s gubernatorial campaign in 2018 and has donated to several Democratic candidates over the years.
He was well known in state and local Democratic circles and served on Bashir’s inaugural committee in 2019.
This was not what Bashir wanted people to think of him in an interview Wednesday night.
“Man, he had such a wonderful smile. His eyes lit up. Love life. He was always into something. Trying to make the city a better place. He was always into something.”
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 contact her. And I thought she deserved to know, and we’re now close to where that call was made.
Beshear, who faces re-election in the deep red state of Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott have been planning the Democrats’ next steps whenever he finishes as governor.
Thomas Elliott, 63, one of Gov. Andy Beshear’s closest friends, died Monday morning in a mass shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
Beshear, who faces re-election in the deep red state of Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott have been planning the Democrats’ next steps whenever he finishes as governor.
Connor Sturgeon killed five people – former colleagues at the old National Bank – before being shot dead by police on Monday
“He was trying to plan for me when I finished as Governor,” Bashir said, “something I hoped we would eventually plan together.” “A wonderful human being, a loving father.”
Beshear said that while he supported “red flag” gun laws — allowing courts to take away firearms from those who have been described as a danger to themselves or others — he didn’t see it as likely while Republicans retained control of the legislature.
While he admitted that it may not have stopped the sturgeon in its rampage, it might help someone in the future.
“At least it allows us to stop that next person – at least when we know – before they kill people,” he said. And listen, I know people are going to say that wouldn’t have stopped this situation. And it probably won’t be. Maybe it will be next. I don’t want another family to go through this.
On Monday evening, Louisville police confirmed the death of Diana Eckert, 57, a bank administrative executive and mother of two.
The other three victims whose deaths were announced at a news conference Monday afternoon were Joshua Barrick, 40; James C. Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57.
All five were senior executives at the bank.
“There are no words to adequately describe the grief and devastation experienced by our ancient patriotic family as we mourn the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the healing of all of them,” said Jim Ryan, the bank’s chief executive, Monday evening. who were injured.
The death of Diana Eckert, 57, an executive managing officer at the bank, was announced Monday night
James C. Tutt, 64 (left), was a market executive at Old National Bank, while Joshua Parikh, 40 (right) was vice president of commercial real estate.
Juliana Farmer, 57, a loan analyst at the regional company, was a mother and grandmother
Ryan continued: ‘Obviously, this is a very difficult situation, and our entire focus is on making sure everyone affected gets the support and help 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.
Finally, we ask that you continue to pray for all those affected.
Tutt was a commercial real estate executive for the South District of the Old National Bank.
Parikh, 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 been working since last August, according to his LinkedIn.
Farmer, a mother and grandmother, was a loan analyst at a regional firm.
Sturgeon’s mother frantically phoned 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.
Sturgeon broadcast the massacre right before he was shot by the police.
Eight other people were injured, including police officer Nicholas Wilt who was shot in the head and remains in hospital in critical condition.
On the call, Lisa, a woman who identified herself as Sturgeon’s mother, told the employee: “He’s never hurt anyone. He’s a really good kid. Please don’t punish him… He’s nonviolent; he’s done nothing wrong.”
She tells the operator that her son’s roommate, Dallas Wallen, found a message and called her.
Conor Sturgeon pictured live with his father, Todd, mother, Lisa, and younger brother, Cameron
The Louisville shooter (shown here on prom night) killed five people and wounded at least seven during the bank shooting
Bank employee Conor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault rifle in the attack Monday on the Old National Bank, killing five colleagues during a live broadcast before he was shot by police.
The operator tells Lisa that they have received several 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.”
Then the operator advised her to stay away from the scene of the shooting.
During the call, Lisa also speculates that her son may have gotten his gun from his girlfriend. I don’t know where he would get a gun. He must have got it from his girlfriend or something.
‘I think his girlfriend probably had a gun,’ she said later. I don’t know, maybe he saw them.
Authorities believe Sturgeon purchased the gun about a week before the massacre.
None of the callers were identified by name and other information was released from the calls, but the first message received 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 bank’s downtown branch.
