Kentucky, Louisville postpone baseball game in wake of shootings that left 5 dead, 10 injured

Callie Lawson-Freeman

A matchup between the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky baseball programs was originally scheduled to take place Tuesday at Louisville's Jim Patterson Stadium has been postponed, the teams announced.

The "tragic events" referenced in the announcement are two separate shootings that occurred Monday in downtown Louisville, killing five people and injuring 10.

As both teams work to reschedule the game, Louisville is currently slated to take the field again Friday to host Wake Forest in a series between top 10 teams.

Kentucky and Louisville opted to postpone a baseball game at Jim Patterson Stadium in light of two shootings. (Getty)
Kentucky and Louisville opted to postpone a baseball game at Jim Patterson Stadium in light of two shootings. (Getty) (Joe Hendrickson via Getty Images)

This first incident that shook Louisville occurred at around 8:30 a.m. Monday. A gunman identified as Connor Sturgeon live-streamed his attack of the Old National Bank on East Main Street with a rifle.

The 23-year-old male was employed at the bank and was shot and killed after shooting at law enforcement, Louisville Metro Police Department Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel said at a news conference.

Four people, all employees at the bank, were killed. Police identified them as Tommy Elliott (63), Juliana Farmer (57), Jim Tutt (64) and Josh Barrick (40).

Nine other individuals were injured. Officer Nickolas Wilt, 26, is one of them. He is currently listed in critical condition after sustaining a gunshot to the the head. He reportedly graduated from the police academy on March 31.

As police responded to that incident, some officers had to leave in order to address another shooting just a mile and a half away, at Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC), LMPD Maj. Russell Miller said.

The second shooting was reported at 8th and Chestnut streets around 11 a.m., according to LMPD spokesman Aaron Ellis.

Upon arrival, officers reportedly found two adults who had been shot outside. One man was pronounced dead at the scene while a woman was taken to University Hospital with unknown injuries.

Classes at JCTC were canceled for the day.

President Joe Biden offered a statement, saying he and first lady Jill Biden were praying for the victims.

"Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence. ... Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives," he said. "When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?"

Statements from around the sports world

The National Women's Soccer League offered sympathy to the victims and members of the Racing Louisville organization:

America's latest mass shooting on Monday occurred just two weeks after six people, including three young children, were killed a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee.

On Sunday, longtime San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich took almost nine minutes to talk about gun violence and the need for gun control in the United States in light of that tragedy. Less than 24 hours later, his comments became even more timely.

He issued a similar passionate address after 21 people were killed at the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting in 2022.

This time, Popovich specifically called out Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Gov. Bill Lee.

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