Changes have arrived to a redesigned Causes: Check out new.causes.com!

Causes.com
| 4.12.23

Louisville Shooting Gun Will Be Auctioned Off

Tell your reps to pass gun control now.

Updated April 12, 2023

  • Officials say the gun, a legally purchased AR-15-style rifle, used in the fatal shooting in Louisville will most likely be auctioned off to the public.
  • Under Kentucky law, confiscated guns, including those used in homicide cases, are returned to state police and then can be purchased at public auctions. All the auctioned-off guns have a warning label: "Deadly weapons like this one caused 146 homicides by gunshot wound in Louisville in 2022. Fourteen of those deaths were children." 
  • Mayor Greenberg criticized this law at a news conference after the shooting:

"Under current Kentucky law, the assault rifle that was used to murder five of our neighbors and shoot at rescuing police officers will one day be auctioned off. Think about that. That murder weapon will be back on the streets."

Updated April 10, 5pm EST

  • Police identified the shooter as a 23-year-old white man who was an employee of the bank. He was killed by law enforcement at the scene of the shooting. According to interim police chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroe, the shooter was live-streaming during the crime. 
  • Nine patients are being treated at a local hospital, including two police officers. One officer and two civilians are in critical condition.
  • Mayor Greenberg tweeted:

What’s the story?

  • On Monday morning, a shooting in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, left five people dead and six injured. The Louisville Metro Police Department said the suspected shooter is dead, and there is no longer an active threat in the area. 
  • The shooting occurred at the Old National Bank Building across from Louisville Slugger Field, a minor league baseball stadium. Earlier this morning, police reported an “active aggressor” in the area and urged people to stay away from the site. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a tweet:

“Please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice. We will provide information as soon as possible.”

  • FBI special agents, officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and state law enforcement are investigating the shooting. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced he was heading to the crime scene. He said:

“Please pray for all families impacted and for the city of Louisville.”

 

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

 

-Jamie Epstein