Beshear: ‘Very close friend’ was victim in Louisville shooting. Other political leaders react.
Kentucky’s political leaders are expressing grief and condolences to victims following the mass shooting that resulted in five deaths and nine injured in Louisville on Monday.
Gov. Andy Beshear asked people to “pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville” on Twitter.
During a press conference in Louisville, Beshear said that among the dead were two close friends, and that he ran his 2015 campaign for attorney general out of the building where the shooting took place.
“I had a very close friend that didn’t make it today... And one who’s at the hospital, that I hope is going to make it through,” Beshear said.
Beshear later clarified that the “close friend” who died was Tommy Elliot, a banker who was also a strong political ally in Louisville.
Louisville Democratic Rep. Keturah Herron decried the proliferation of gun violence and mass shooting events across the country, suggesting “outrage and anger” should be directed toward change.
“This is happening around the country in a city daily. Today was our turn in Louisville, KY. As we hold our community tighter there must (be) outrage and anger. We live in a war zone and we shouldn’t have to,” Herron wrote.
Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, joined Herron in calling for change.
“It is time to address common sense gun legislation. KY requires all guns confiscated in the state to be resold on the open market. Will not even discuss red flag laws in the legislature. No office of gun safety. Thoughts and prayers are not enough! It is past time for action,” Berg tweeted.
Gun control was a topic of major interest in Tennessee in recent weeks after a school shooting there. GOP leadership in the state legislature expelled two Democratic lawmakers for protesting.
President Joe Biden mourned the loss of life in Louisville but also called for national lawmakers to push for gun legislation.
“Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives. When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities,” Biden asked in a tweet.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed Biden.
“We need leaders with the courage to act. We can’t fall for a false choice between upholding the 2nd Amendment and saving lives. We can do both,” Harris tweeted.
Former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker, who now leads the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Community Involvement, said that prayers were important but more needs to be done.
“I’m really tired of this. Prayers are important, but we know they are not a substitute for the work we must do,” Booker said.
The Kentucky House Democratic Caucus issued a statement calling for legislative action on the matter.
“We mourn for the victims who were senselessly killed or wounded and pray for them and their loved ones. We also want to praise the decisive action and bravery of law enforcement that undoubtedly saved lives,” the group wrote. “More broadly, though, we should not have to live like this – living in fear and in a time where legislative inaction regarding gun violence has become the law of the land. We must demand more.”
Kentucky Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, responded similarly.
“As we mourn and reflect on the devastating impact of today’s events, we must come together as a community and society to find effective solutions in preventing the continuing scourge of gun violence. We can do more and have an obligation to do more to prevent such tragedies from happening again,” Neal said.
Louisville Democratic Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong said that she was ready to work on any legislative solutions.
“I am heartbroken, I am angry, I am scared, I am praying. I love my city, and I will work with anyone and everyone to pass policies to protect us from this violence,” Chambers Armstrong wrote.
Republicans in the state largely avoided the topic of any kind of policy response, but Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, was an exception.
“We’ve got to have conversations about what government can do to protect against gun violence. Government cannot be the only solution, but it must be part of it. I don’t pretend to have a solution, but I’m willing to try to find one,” Westerfield, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said.
Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who is running for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year, said that his office was monitoring the situation and that he and his wife were praying for the injured. He also commended law enforcement’s response to the event.
Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles expressed a similar sentiment.
“Praying for everyone involved in the shooting in downtown Louisville this morning. I’m grateful for our brave law enforcement officers and first responders who are dealing with this tragedy,” Quarles wrote.
Kelly Craft, a former ambassador to the United Nations and Canada who is in the crowded GOP Republican field for governor, said she was “devastated by the horrendous news.”
“Devastated by the horrendous news coming out of downtown Louisville this morning. Praying for the victims, their families, survivors, law enforcement, and the city of Louisville. May God’s Grace be with us today,” Craft tweeted.
Kentucky’s delegation in Washington also expressed grief at the tragedy.
“I am heartbroken to learn of the tragedy in Louisville this morning. Please join me in praying for the families of the victims and those currently receiving medical treatment,” Central Kentucky GOP U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said.
Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul both said on Twitter that they were praying for all involved.
“Elaine and I are devastated by the news coming out of Louisville this morning. Thank you to LMPD and our first responders for your bravery at the scene. We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information,” McConnell tweeted.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Beshear lauded the efforts of the Louisville Metro Police Department in responding to the event.
“Our community will continue to stand together… We will come together as a community to work to prevent these horrific acts of gun violence from continuing here and around the state,” Greenberg, who survived an assassination attempt during his campaign, said.
Rep. Pam Stevenson, D-Louisville, represents the area of the shooting. Stevenson, who is also the lone Democratic nominee for attorney general this year, urged people downtown to stay inside.
This story was originally published April 10, 2023 at 11:18 AM.
