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Plagued by gun violence, Louisvillians say mass shooting was only a matter of time

We knew it could happen here.

In a city where gun violence claims lives weekly, a mass killing felt like only a matter of time.

Still, when an Old National Bank employee opened fire on his co-workers Monday at a branch in Louisville, killing five people and injuring eight others, it sent shockwaves through our community as it geared up for spring, for the Kentucky Derby, for blissful celebrations.

Wednesday updates: City releases 911 calls from Old National Bank shooting

In a classroom at Southern High School, students frantically texted their parents to find out if they were downtown.

A restaurant near the bank became an emergency center for police and victims' families, hoping for good news about their loved ones.

Monday night church services turned into vigils for those who died.

A man kneels in front of the steps of Old National Bank Tuesday morning after Monday's mass shooting there Monday morning, killing five people and injured nine, including two Louisville Metro Police officers in downtown Louisville, Ky.  April 11, 2023
A man kneels in front of the steps of Old National Bank Tuesday morning after Monday's mass shooting there Monday morning, killing five people and injured nine, including two Louisville Metro Police officers in downtown Louisville, Ky. April 11, 2023

"Certainly we've always philosophically known it could happen in Louisville and probably would happen in Louisville at some point," Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., said of the shooting. "But I don't think anything could have prepared the soul for that."

In interview after interview, residents said they weren't surprised by Monday's news. They've already watched mass shootings take place at a private school in Tennessee; a college campus in Michigan; and a dance hall in California this year, alone.

Related: 100 days into 2023, Louisville attack marks nation's 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing

They've also witnessed a drastic increase in local homicides that have left more than 650 people dead since 2019.

Those deaths continued hours after the bank shooting, when Chea'von Moore, 24, was fatally shot outside a Jefferson Community & Technical College building. An unnamed woman was also injured in that incident.

"In many respects, it felt like yesterday was a culmination of sadness that was already pre-existing, to a certain extent," Jason Crosby, a chaplain at Centre College who lives in Louisville, said Tuesday. "It kind of punctuated just the general sense of weariness that I think people were already feeling, even before yesterday."

Kennita Ballard, a teacher at the Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, whose students have already felt the effects of gun violence, was a little more blunt.

"I hate to be flippant about it, but it was like this was just another day," she said. "It's normal for the students."

Kids in schools now regularly participate in active shooter drills, Ballard said. They learn about mass shootings on social media. And some know victims of gun violence personally – including family members and classmates.

"As a teacher, I don't know what to make of that," Ballard said. She's heard some argue the experiences make students more resilient, but system failures "created these situations that students have to deal with."

Kelly Morris, left, and her mom Cathy Morris leave inspirational messages on a makeshift memorial placed in front of the Old National Bank to honor the victims of the mass shooting that occurred earlier in the week in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023.
Kelly Morris, left, and her mom Cathy Morris leave inspirational messages on a makeshift memorial placed in front of the Old National Bank to honor the victims of the mass shooting that occurred earlier in the week in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023.

"Our children, our 11-year-olds, our 13-year-olds, they had no hand in the making of what is impacting our city, what is impacting our state, what is impacting our nation," she said.

Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville NAACP, said it's beyond time for legislators to enact sensible gun legislation – including instituting background checks for gun owners and limits on semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15 rifle used at the bank.

"No matter what, if you're conservative or liberal, Democratic or Republican, this has got to be checked and stopped," Cunningham said. "And I can't think of any way of doing it except through the legislative process."

More: 911 calls of Louisville Old National Bank shooting paint bleak picture inside the building

Anthony Smith, executive director at Cities United, an organization working with cities to reduce gun violence, agreed, saying gun legislation is not a political issue, but a human one.

"It's not about taking guns away from folks but making access a little bit harder to get," Smith said, "paying attention to when people have issues, making sure we get to them and help them."

Smith added those issues need to be raised anytime a fatal shooting occurs – not only when multiple victims are involved.

The American flag was flown at half staff at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023 to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank yesterday.  Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags to be lowered to that level this week.
The American flag was flown at half staff at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023 to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank yesterday. Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags to be lowered to that level this week.

"For me, it feels like we should be having press conferences and vigils as a community every day or whenever we lose somebody to make sure we understand, that we care about all life that is lost as a city," he said.

One hope for Ballard and Angela Parsons, principal at the J. Graham Brown School, are their students.

Young people in their classrooms aren't shy about talking about their struggles or going to an adult if they're worried about a friend, Parsons said.

"When they become adults in the world, they're going to recognize 'I don't want these things for our community,'" Ballard said. "... While I don't feel like there will be a change (following this shooting), I feel like there will be a change in this generation that I'm teaching."

Letters: Louisville responds to mass shooting at Old National Bank, 'Do something!'

Sam Cruz, owner of Against the Grain Brewery, which served as an emergency center following the shooting, said he's proud of the way his staff and police handled the tragedy.

And while it seems "inconsequential at this moment, I hope people understand Louisville is a great place," he said. "... I'm proud of our city."

Kim Shaver held flowers as she leaned against a tree in the distance during a vigil at the Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank earlier in the day in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 10, 2023.
Kim Shaver held flowers as she leaned against a tree in the distance during a vigil at the Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank earlier in the day in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 10, 2023.

Outside Old National Bank on Tuesday, Brandon Chrusciel stopped to pay his respects, pausing before bouquets that lined the steps leading up to the office building at Preston and Main streets.

Chrusciel said he went to the same high school as shooter Connor Sturgeon, and he struggled to explain how he felt about the tragedy.

As a member of the military, he's trained in responding to casualties. But that "doesn't mean you're automatically immune" to the horrific nature of public shootings.

"We've got to come together, talk about it," Chrusciel said. "I know it can be painful, but one thing I've learned is that not talking about it doesn't make the pain go away."

Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville residents say mass shooting was expected but horrifying