LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two days after Louisville police say a gunman shot and killed five coworkers and hurt many others, the memorial on the steps of Old National Bank continues to grow. 

What You Need To Know

  • Officer Nickolas Wilt remained in the ICU Wednesday 

  • Another victim remained hospitalized in fair condition

  • A memorial to the victims continues to grow outside Old National Bank 

  • The American Red Cross is Louisville reported a surge in blood donations

Throughout the day Wednesday, people left behind flowers and signed five wooden crosses placed in memory of Joshua Barrick, Thomas Elliott, Juliana Farmer, James Tutt and Deana Eckert. 

One victim was in fair condition and Officer Nickolas Wilt remained in the ICU Wednesday, according to UofL Health. 

UofL Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jason Smith, who treated three of the patients from the mass shooting, explained the work that goes into saving victims of gun violence.

“Immediately, 20 people descend on that one patient,” he said. “They’re nurses. They’re lab techs. They’re doctors. All working to try and coordinate their activities to make sure that the patient is stable.” 

The gunman legally purchased an AR-15 from a Louisville dealership six days before the shooting, police said. 

The injuries from a rifle, said Smith, simply don’t compare to a handgun. 

“The rifle rounds pulverize and liquify tissue because of how fast they’re moving,” said Smith. “They powder bone. They tear large gaping holes in tissue. You don’t see that with a handgun.” 

The hospital used 170 units of blood to treat the victims, Smith said Tuesday. 

Wednesday afternoon, Congressman Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, was preparing to donate his own.

The American Red Cross in Louisville reported it was at capacity for appointments and adding more spots. 

“I think it shows that we as Louisvillians care about each other, that we know when people are hurting we want to step up and help people out and this is a way we can do it that we know will work,” McGarvey said, referring to the surge in blood donations. 

Former State Rep. Joni Jenkins, a senior adviser to McGarvey who also donated blood, said she knew one of the victims.  

“You don’t expect this to happen in your town, and you know, we’re a big small town and all of us knew somebody affected by this,” she said. “Hopefully, this horrible, horrible incident will continue a conversation about what we need to do in this community, in this state, in this nation to keep people safer.” 

Related Stories