Louisville gunman wanted to ‘stop gun violence’ by taking out ‘upper-class white people’
The man who shot and killed five people at a bank earlier this year in Louisville, Kentucky, wanted to send a message — about the need for gun control.
Connor James Sturgeon, who died April 10 in a firefight with Louisville police, left behind a journal that laid out his motives for the deadly attack, including his belief that killing “upper-class white people” would prompt tougher laws on firearms access.
“I have decided to make an impact. These people did not deserve to die, but because I was depressed and able to buy ____ (guns?), they are gone,” Sturgeon said in an entry dated April 4.
“Perhaps this is the impetus for change — upper-class white people dying. I certainly would not have been able to do this, were it more difficult to get a gun,” he wrote.
His goals included “no more me” and “stop gun violence — send a message to politicians.”
The handwritten writings were part of a 64-page report released Tuesday by the Louisville Metro Police Department that included photocopied images of notebook pages as well as an April 5 selfie showing Sturgeon making a “Joker face.”
Detective Kevin Carillo, who wrote the report, said he “believes the journal entries left behind by Connor Sturgeon are direct information to the planning and his mindset in the days leading up to the shooting, with his possible motives for his actions including political issues surrounding corrupt politicians and lack of gun control.”
Sturgeon, 25, opened fire on his co-workers in a conference room at the Old National Bank, killing five and injuring eight.
Those who died were Thomas Elliott, 63; Joshua Barrick, 40; James Tutt, 64; Juliana Farmer, 45, and Judy “Deana” Eckert, 57.
The gunman was shot in the head eight minutes after the attack began by Officer Cory Galloway, who was able to take out the shooter despite being hit in the vest himself.
His partner, rookie Officer Nickolas Wilt, was struck in the head and hospitalized in critical condition. He was discharged from a rehabilitation center in July after more than three months of therapy, WDRB-TV in Louisville reported.
Certainly Sturgeon had mental-health issues. He was being treated for depression, including therapy and medication, and had voluntarily checked into a mental hospital last year after a suicide attempt during spring break in Florida.
He was also unhappy with his banking job and wanted to take medical leave after suffering a panic attack.
In his writings, he said he had “nothing to live for,” but that “need to make impact — affect change somehow” on issues including “climate disaster,” “gun access,” and “lack of mental health care.”
“Dems get rich by doing nothing in the name of civility while they allow Repubs to do whatever they want to whoever they want,” said one entry. “A level of corruption that stands directly between us and progress.”
He expressed disgust with how easily he was able to obtain firearms, saying “just walked in, 45 mins, get AR-15.”
“I know our politicians are solely focused on lining their own pockets, but maybe this will knock some sense into them. If not, good luck,” he said in his journal, which he began April 3, a week before the shooting.
Even though Sturgeon was planning to carry out a mass shooting, he blamed the National Rifle Association, saying it failed to show “any regard for the value of Human Life.”
“But let’s not forget the most important player here. The one who made it all possible. Let’s give it up for the NRA!! (raucous applause) I couldn’t have done this without all of your lobbying dollars!” he said on April 9. “You really brought this whole thing together. This is the world you are building. One without any regard for the value of Human Life.”
Sturgeon also apologizes repeatedly in a note to his parents, saying “I love you both forever,” and leaves farewell notes to his friends.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at .
