LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The families of the victims of the 2023 Old National Bank shooting in Louisville have filed a lawsuit against River City Firearms Inc., which sold and transferred the AR-15-style rifle used in the deadly shooting, along with national firearm distributor RSR Inc. and manufacturer Magpul Corporation, records show. 

The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Jefferson Circuit Court, says River City was negligent in selling the firearm to 25-year-old Louisville resident and bank employee Connor Sturgeon, who shot several employees in the building. Five people died while eight others were injured, including two Louisville Metro Police officers.

It adds Sturgeon struggled with mental illness and was in the middle of a "breakdown" when he committed the shooting.

Those who died were Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; Deana Eckert, 57; and James Tutt, 64. Sturgeon also died. The lawsuit said he had never fired a gun before committing the attack. 

The lawsuit was filed by Maryanne Elliott, the executrix of the estate of Elliott; A'lia Tazhia Chambers and J'eyon Christopher Chambers, administrators of the estate of Farmer; and Michael Eckert, administrator of the estate of Eckert through Poppe Law Firm. 

"River City knew or should have known that firearms, as well as accessories designed to increase their effectiveness, should not be supplied to persons who pose a foreseeable risk of harm to themselves or others by reason of acute mental disturbance, inexperience or otherwise," the lawsuit reads.

"Sturgeon's obvious incompetence with firearms, his selection of a weapon especially ill-suited for him and his purported use, and his suspicious behavior at the point of sale would have alerted a reasonable firearm dealer to the likelihood that Sturgeon would use these products in a manner involving unreasonable risk of physical injury to himself and others; and in fact, Sturgeon did so use them." 

A representative for River City Firearms could not be immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.

The company sold Sturgeon the firearm April 4, 2023, six days before the shooting, the lawsuit says. It adds the dealer should have recognized Sturgeon's nervous behavior, his lack of knowledge on firearms and choosing one poorly suited for his purposes as red flags of a potentially dangerous or illegal sale. 

The lawsuit also alleges RSR and Magpul were negligent in encouraging retail sellers to upsell their products to consumers through sales incentives, failing to take the reasonable steps in ensuring the purchasers of their accessories were fit to use and possess them and failing to establish reasonable controls such as ensuring the dealers selling their products do not have a history of firearm regulation violations.