Month: April 2023

Officials said on Tuesday that the gunman who killed five co-workers at a Louisville bank on Monday had legally purchased the high-powered rifle used in the mass shooting less than a week ago. Interim Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel told reporters that the gunman, 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, bought the AR-15-style weapon from an authorized seller: “We have also learned that he purchased the weapon used in this tragic incident yesterday on April 4. He purchased the weapon legally from one of the local dealerships here in Louisville.”

Louisville Rep. Morgan McGarvey also revealed that the shooter had sent disturbing text messages signaling he was considering harming himself before Monday’s shooting: “We know he left a note, we know he texted or called at least one person to let them know that he was suicidal and contemplating harm. But we don’t have the tools on the books to deal with someone who is an imminent danger to themselves or to others.”

Louisville police also made public the police body camera footage on Tuesday, showing how officers confronted Sturgeon on Monday morning at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville. Two officers, Cory Galloway and Nickolas Wilt, were shot by Sturgeon. Galloway was grazed on his left side, while Wilt was shot in the head. The 26-year-old Wilt underwent surgery Monday and was listed in critical condition; he was a recent academy graduate and on only his fourth shift when he rushed toward the bank alongside his Galloway, his field training officer. Police confirmed that Galloway was the officer who killed Sturgeon.  Police Chief Gwinn-Villaroel said: “I am just truly proud of the heroic actions of those two officers. “They went toward danger in order to save and preserve life and that’s what you saw yesterday. They stopped the threat so other lives could be saved. No hesitation and they did what they were called to do.”

Among the victims were Deana Eckert, 57, was rushed to the hospital following the shooting barrage and died Monday night. Four others — Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64 — died earlier in the day. Jefferson County Coroner’s Office records revealed Tuesday that all five were victims of “multiple gunshot wounds” with homicide listed as the cause of death.

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On Tuesday, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg filed a lawsuit against Republican House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, asking a court to block elements of the congressional inquiry into his case against former President Donald Trump. Trump pleaded not guilty last week to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to his role in hush money payments made toward the end of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Bragg called the GOP’s inquiry an “unprecedently brazen and unconstitutional attack” of an ongoing investigation, and said in the suit that allowing Jordan’s demands would cause “imminent irreparable harm if the secret and privileged material is compelled to be disclosed.” Bragg’s suit asked the court to block Jordan’s subpoena of former Assistant DA Mark Pomerantz. Jordan has requested that Pomerantz to sit for a deposition as part of the Judiciary panel’s investigation into the indictment of Trump.

Bragg said in a statement Tuesday: “Chairman Jordan’s subpoena is an unconstitutional attempt to undermine an ongoing New York felony criminal prosecution and investigation. As our complaint details, this is an unprecedented, illegitimate interference by Congress that lacks any legal merit and defies basic principles of federalism.”  The lawsuit from Bragg is the culmination of an ongoing dispute between Bragg and Jordan, who issued the subpoena to Pomerantz two days after former President Trump was charged with 34 felony counts. Bragg said that Jordan was attempting to “undermine” the criminal case against Trump by seeking Pomerantz’s testimony.

In response, Jordan tweeted that the lawsuit attempts to block congressional oversight: “First, they indict a president for no crime. Then, they sue to block congressional oversight when we ask questions about the federal funds they say they used to do it.”

A federal judge in New York has scheduled an April 19 hearing for Bragg’s lawsuit.

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Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has issued an apology on Monday after a video showing him kissing a child on the lips – and asking him to suck his tongue – triggered criticism. The video of the incident that occurred back in February at an event in northern India triggered a backlash online, with social media users condemning his behavior as inappropriate and disturbing.

A statement posted on The Dalai Lama’s official website and shared across his social media pages said he regretted the incident: “His Holiness wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused … His Holiness often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident.”

The incident occurred at a public gathering in February at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamsala, where the exiled leader lives. The 87-year-old leader was taking questions from the audience when a young boy can be seen approaching the Nobel Peace Prize winner before asking, “Can I hug you?” The Dalai Lama invited the boy up toward the platform he was seated on and gestured to his cheek, prompting the boy to give him a hug and a kiss. The Dalai Lama then points to his lips, and says: “then I think finally here also.” He then pulls the boy’s chin and kisses him on the mouth. “And suck my tongue,” he says after a few seconds, poking his tongue out and prompting laughter from the audience.

The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the best-known living Buddhist figure in the world and is revered by millions as the reincarnation of his 13 predecessors. The spiritual leader has made the hillside town of Dharamshala his headquarters since fleeing from Tibet after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. India considers Tibet to be part of China, though it hosts Tibetan exiles.

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A gunman opened fire at a bank in downtown Louisville on Monday, in a mass shooting that left four dead and wounded eight others — including two officers responding to the scene. Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey said the shooter, described as a current or former employee of Old National Bank, was also killed not long after the 8:30 a.m. ET shooting unfolded at 333 E. Main St.

Deputy Chief Humphrey added that emergency personnel transported eight people to the University of Louisville Hospital, where one of the injured officers remained in critical condition from his injuries. He said the suspect, who has not been identified, “was still firing gunshots” when officers arrived on the scene when they allegedly started taking gunfire from the suspect.  Said Humphrey: “Ultimately that suspect did die at the scene. We’re trying to confirm if that suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was killed by an officer … We are currently working to identify all of the victim. The investigation is ongoing. This will pretty much take into the night. There is no active threat. We believe this was a lone gunman that did have a connection with the bank.”

Humphrey said officers arrived at about 8:30 a.m., EDT, within three minutes of the initial call, and he believes that response saved more people from being injured or killed: “It is clear from the officers’ response that they absolutely saved people’s lives. It was a heroic response of officers that made sure that no more people were more seriously injured than what happened.”

Gov. Andy Beshear fought back tears and told reporters that two of the dead and one of the wounded were friends of his.  Said Beshear: “This is awful. I have a very close friend who didn’t make it today, and I have another close friend who didn’t either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is going to make it through.”  Beshear later said on Twitter: “Today is a tragedy. Louisville and the entire commonwealth are mourning and we call on everyone to share the love, support and compassion this community desperately needs right now … A senseless act took the lives of our fellow Kentuckians, including friends of mine. What these families are experiencing is unimaginable. They need us to wrap our arms around them and to love them with all our hearts … Thank you to the heroic members of the LMPD and all of our first responders who undoubtedly saved lives while putting their own at risk. We are forever grateful. “

Old National Bank said in a statement posted to social media on Monday that members of its executive team, including CEO Jim Ryan had arrived at the site in response to the shooting: “The safety of Old National Bank employees and everyone we serve in our banking center locations is paramount. As we await more details, we are deploying employee assistance support and keeping everyone affected by this tragedy in our thoughts and prayers.”

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A Texas man convicted of murder for killing a Black Lives Matter protester in July 2020 will likely receive a pardon from the state’s Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott said in a statement that Texas law allows him to request that the Board of Pardons and Paroles determine whether a person should be granted a pardon. Texas law only allows the governor the ability to issue a pardon after a recommendation has been made by the board. Abbott shared on Twitter that he would be “working as swiftly as Texas law allows: to pardon Daniel Perry … Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney … I have made that request and instructed the board to expedite its review.”

Abbott added that he was ‘certain’ that the board would agree to recommend a pardon, stating that he anticipated approving it “as soon as it hits my desk … Additionally, I have already prioritized reining in rogue District Attorneys, and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal.”

Perry, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, was found guilty of murdering Garrett Foster. The Austin American-Statesman reported that Perry shot the protester five times as he approached his car while allegedly carrying an AK-47 during a march after the death of George Floyd.  Perry’s lawyers said during his trial that the 28-year-old Foster raised his weapon at Perry before he was killed, and that Perry had fired in self-defense. Witnesses said that Foster never raised his weapon and no video or photos shown at the trial indicated that he did.

Meanwhile, prosecutors argued that Perry had demonstrated anger towards the protesters, and stated in posts made to social media that ‘people could get away with shooting protesters in Texas.’  Prosecutor Guillermo Gonzalez said: “This is an age-old story about a man who couldn’t keep his anger under control. It’s not about police, and it’s not about protest marchers.”

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According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), two Wisconsin police officers were killed on Saturday following a shootout with a suspect during a traffic stop in Cameron, WI. Officials said in a news release that the officers were from two different police departments.

The Wisconsin DOJ said a shootout began after a Chetek Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop at 3:38 p.m., local time, in Cameron, Wisconsin, on Saturday. The Chetek officer and an officer from the Cameron Police Department were killed at the scene, according to officials. The suspect was also killed, the state’s justice department confirmed in the news release.

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul tweeted: “I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time.”  Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers tweeted out his condolences on Sunday to family and friends of the two officers: “Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers’ families, colleagues, and the Barron County community mourning this tragic loss.”

According to the Wisconsin DOJ, DCI is leading the investigation into the case and is working alongside Barron County Sheriff’s Office, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin State Crime Lab and a DCI Crime Response Specialist.  Chetek Chief of Police Ron Ambrozaitis said in a statement posted on the department’s Facebook page on Sunday: “Our community is experiencing a time of great tragedy. As we continue to work through this, please respect the privacy of our law enforcement officers and their families. We want to thank the community for their continued support and overwhelming acts of kindness. The support has been tremendous!”

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