Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear responded Wednesday to the release of 911 audio from the deadly Louisville bank shooting.
“This person murdered my friend. But still, I can’t imagine how his parents must be feeling. Right now,” Beshear said.
Beshear’s friend Tommy Elliott, a bank executive, was killed by the gunman.
The governor said he wanted his friend to be remembered as a loving father and husband.
“Man, he had a great smile. His eyes lit up. Loved life. Was always into something. Trying to make the city a better place, he was just always into something,” he said, in his first interview since the tragic shooting, with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
Elliott, the bank’s senior vice president, had chaired Beshear’s 2019 inaugural committee and was a well-known figure in Kentucky Democratic politics.
“He was trying to plan for me for when I’m done being governor, which was something that I hoped we could eventually plan for together,” Beshear said. “An amazing human being, a loving dad.”
One of the 911 calls released Wednesday included one from the mother of the gunman.
Relaying details from her son’s roommate, she said her son “apparently left a note” as she expressed her shock and confusion.
“My son might be (redacted) has a gun and heading to the Old National on Main Street here in Louisville,” she said in the call. “This is his mother. I’m so sorry, I’m getting details secondhand. I’m learning about it now. Oh, my Lord.”
Hear Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear here:
