Connor James Sturgeon Biography
Connor James Sturgeon (born February 11, 1998 – died April 10, 2023) was a 25-year-old bank employee who carried out a mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on the morning of April 10, 2023.
Raised in Greenville, Indiana, he attended Floyd Central High School, where he was a standout athlete but suffered multiple concussions that reportedly affected his mental health.
After graduating in 2016, he earned a degree from the University of Alabama in December 2020 and began full-time work at the bank in June 2021, following several internships.
Armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style rifle, Sturgeon killed five colleagues, Thomas Elliott, James Tutt, Juliana Farmer, Joshua Barrick, and Judy Eckert, and injured others, including police officers, while live-streaming the attack on Instagram before being fatally shot by police.
Investigations revealed he had left notes expressing a desire to highlight how easily individuals with mental health struggles could access firearms.
The tragedy sparked national debate on gun control legislation.
Connor James Sturgeon Wikipedia
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Connor James Sturgeon |
| Born | February 11, 1998 |
| Died | April 10, 2023 (Age 25) |
| Hometown | Greenville, Indiana |
| High School | Floyd Central High School, Floyds Knobs, Indiana |
| College | University of Alabama (Graduated December 2020) |
| Occupation | Former employee at Old National Bank (since June 2021) |
| Weapon Used | AR–15–style rifle (Radical Firearms RF-15) |
| Motive | Desire to highlight lax gun laws in the U.S. |
| Mental Health Struggles | Depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts |
| Notable Social Media Quotes | “I could burn this whole place down.” |
| “I know what I have to do, but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.” | |
| “They won’t listen to words or protests. Let’s see if they hear this.” | |
| Social Media Presence | Livestreamed the attack on Instagram before being killed by police |
| Date of Incident | April 10, 2023 |
| Location of Shooting | Old National Bank, Louisville, Kentucky |
| Time of Shooting | 8:36 AM – 8:45 AM EDT |
| Victims | 5 killed, 8 injured (including 2 police officers) |
| Police Response | Officers arrived within 3 minutes; Sturgeon shot after a brief gunfire exchange |
| Investigating Agencies | FBI, ATF, LMPD |
| Search of Residence | Notes left behind expressing anger at politicians, firearms access, and the desire for gun law reform |
Connor James Sturgeon Early Life and Education
Connor James Sturgeon was born on February 11, 1998, and raised in Greenville, Indiana.
He attended Floyd Central High School, where he was known as a standout athlete, participating in sports like basketball and track.
However, he reportedly suffered multiple concussions during his time in high school, which are believed to have contributed to his declining mental health.
After graduating in 2016, he went on to study at the University of Alabama, where he earned his degree in December 2020.
Connor James Sturgeon Career and Achievements
After graduating from the University of Alabama in December 2020, Connor James Sturgeon began his professional career at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
He had previously completed multiple summer internships at the bank before being hired as a full-time employee in June 2021.
Sturgeon worked as a syndications associate and portfolio banker, handling commercial banking tasks.
While he maintained a stable job, there were no widely recognized professional achievements or public accolades tied to his career before the tragic events of April 10, 2023.
Connor James Sturgeon: 2023 Louisville bank shooting
On the morning of April 10, 2023, a deadly mass shooting unfolded at Old National Bank in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
The shooter, 25-year-old Connor James Sturgeon, a former bank employee, killed five people and injured eight others, including two police officers.
Sturgeon was shot and killed by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD).
Incident Timeline and Key Details:
The attack occurred around 8:38 a.m. EDT on the first floor of Old National Bank, located on East Main Street, close to Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
Armed with a legally purchased AR-15-style rifle, Sturgeon opened fire during a virtual staff meeting in the bank’s conference room. A bank manager watched the shooting unfold live on her computer.
Sturgeon livestreamed the attack on Instagram, which was quickly removed by the platform. Eyewitnesses described hearing a “click” before the shooting began. Some initially mistook the sounds for construction noise until others alerted them.
LMPD officers responded within three minutes of the first 911 call. The shooter had positioned himself to ambush arriving police. At 8:45 a.m., officers exchanged gunfire with Sturgeon, fatally wounding him about five minutes after their arrival.
Victims of the Shooting:
All five fatalities were employees of Old National Bank:
- Josh Barrick, 40
- Deana Eckert, 57 (died later in the hospital)
- Tommy Elliott, 63 (a close friend of Governor Andy Beshear)
- Juliana Farmer, 45
- Jim Tutt, 64
Nine individuals were taken to the University of Louisville Hospital, including two LMPD officers. Three were released the same day. Three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while three required surgery, including one officer who underwent emergency brain surgery.
Shooter Background: Connor James Sturgeon:
- Born: February 11, 1998
- Died: April 10, 2023 (Age 25)
Connor Sturgeon grew up in Greenville, Indiana, and attended Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs. Once a standout student and athlete, he suffered multiple concussions that led to prolonged school absences.
He earned a degree from the University of Alabama in December 2020 and began working full-time at Old National Bank in June 2021, after interning there previously.
Sturgeon had a documented history of mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Before the shooting, he messaged a friend expressing suicidal thoughts and a desire to hurt others.
His social media included disturbing captions such as:
- “I could burn this whole place down.”
- “I know what I have to do, but I don’t know if I have the strength to do it.”
- “They won’t listen to words or protests. Let’s see if they hear this.”
Authorities found two notes, one on his body, another at his home, stating he intended to highlight how easily a person with mental illness could legally buy a firearm. He reportedly wanted to target wealthy white individuals as a political statement.
Investigation and Aftermath:
The FBI and ATF joined the investigation. Officials confirmed the attack was not a robbery.
Sturgeon’s home in the Camp Taylor neighborhood, about 7.4 miles from the bank, was searched by authorities. LMPD reports indicated the shooter had written objectives such as:
- “Tell my story”
- “Impact change – gun access”
He emphasized how, despite having a stable job and supportive family, he could still legally purchase a deadly weapon. He blamed political leaders for failing to implement effective gun control policies.
NOTE: The Louisville bank shooting underscores the urgent issues of gun access and mental health awareness in the U.S. It reignited national discussions around firearm legislation and the need for robust mental health interventions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Connor James Sturgeon Family
Connor James Sturgeon was the eldest son of Todd and Lisa Sturgeon and had a younger brother named Cameron Sturgeon.
His father, Todd, was a former head coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of Indianapolis from 1992 to 2007 and later served as a U.S. history teacher and basketball coach at Floyd Central High School in Indiana, where Connor attended.
Lisa Sturgeon, his mother, has maintained a low public profile. Cameron, Connor’s younger brother, is known to be a professional model.
The Sturgeon family resided in Greenville, Indiana, while Connor lived in Louisville, Kentucky, at the time of the incident.
Following the tragic events at Old National Bank on April 10, 2023, both Lisa and Cameron approached law enforcement near the scene, attempting to assist in the unfolding situation.
In the aftermath, Todd and Lisa Sturgeon publicly expressed profound sorrow and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
They revealed that Connor had been struggling with mental health issues, including panic attacks and anxiety, and had been under the care of mental health professionals.
Despite these challenges, they stated there were no clear warning signs indicating he would commit such an act of violence.
FAQs
1. Who was Connor James Sturgeon?
Connor James Sturgeon was a 25-year-old former employee of Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky.
He was responsible for the mass shooting at the bank on April 10, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of five bank employees and the injuries of several others, including two police officers.
He was fatally shot by police after exchanging gunfire with them.
2. What was Connor Sturgeon’s motive for the shooting?
Sturgeon’s alleged motive was to highlight the perceived lax gun laws in the United States.
In notes left behind after the incident, he expressed frustration with gun access and criticized politicians for failing to address gun violence.
He also aimed to make a political statement targeting what he described as “upper-class white individuals.”
3. What weapon did Connor Sturgeon use in the shooting?
Connor Sturgeon used a Radical Firearms RF-15, an AR-15-style rifle. He had legally purchased the weapon from a local dealer just six days before the attack.
4. Did Connor Sturgeon have any prior warning signs or mental health issues?
Yes, Connor Sturgeon had a history of mental health struggles, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Before the shooting, he reportedly messaged a friend stating that he was feeling suicidal and wanted to harm others. His social media posts also indicated a sense of impending violence.
5. How did the police respond to the situation?
The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) responded quickly, arriving at the scene just three minutes after the first 911 call was made.
Officers engaged in a gunfight with Sturgeon, who was fatally shot five minutes after they arrived.
6. Was the shooting planned or spontaneous?
The shooting appears to have been planned. Sturgeon had reportedly set up an ambush point to target incoming police officers.
Additionally, he left behind notes detailing his goals, including raising awareness about gun access and making a political statement regarding gun laws in the U.S.
7. How many people were injured or killed in the shooting?
Five individuals were killed, all of whom were employees of Old National Bank. In addition, eight people were injured, including two police officers who were among the victims.
8. What was the aftermath of the shooting?
After the shooting, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) joined the investigation.
The incident raised concerns about gun control laws and mental health issues in the U.S. Sturgeon’s actions also sparked a broader discussion about the accessibility of firearms and the need for stronger mental health support systems.
9. Did Connor Sturgeon have any previous warnings or issues with his employer?
While there were no explicit warnings from his employer, Sturgeon had been employed at Old National Bank since 2021.
He had previously interned at the bank, and no significant issues had been raised regarding his work performance, although his mental health struggles may have contributed to his actions.
10. What was the significance of the social media livestream?
Connor Sturgeon livestreamed the shooting on Instagram, a disturbing action that was taken down shortly after the police killed him.
The livestream provided a chilling glimpse into the events of the attack and further highlighted the disconnect between his mental state and his violent actions.
Conclusion:
The tragic mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 10, 2023, underscores the complex issues surrounding gun control and mental health in the United States.
Connor James Sturgeon, the 25-year-old former employee responsible for the attack, had a history of mental health struggles, which were compounded by his frustrations with the country’s lax gun laws.
His actions, fueled by a desire to make a political statement, led to the deaths of five individuals and the injury of others, including police officers.
Sturgeon’s quick acquisition of a legally purchased firearm and the subsequent livestreaming of the shooting on social media sparked a renewed national conversation about the ease of gun access and the need for stronger mental health support systems.
While his motives were tied to personal grievances, they highlighted broader societal issues related to violence, gun regulation, and the lack of sufficient mental health resources.
This devastating event calls for a deeper reflection on how we address gun violence and mental health in the U.S., as well as how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Discover more from Labaran Yau
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
