Kentucky Governor Delivers Emotional Remarks After Close Friend Killed in Louisville Shooting

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear delivered emotional remarks at a press conference on Monday, April 10, after a mass shooting at a Louisville bank killed four people, including one of his “closest friends,” he said.

“Tommy Hill helped me build with my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad,” Beshear said in an afternoon press conference, adding Hill was one of the people he spoke to “most in the world.”

Beshear added that the state’s flags would fly at half-mast at state buildings until Friday evening to honor the four victims.

Deputy Police Chief Paul Humphrey said police believed that the suspect was a “lone gunman” with a connection to the bank, and that it "appears he was a previous employee.” Credit: Louisville Metro TV via Storyful

Video transcript

ANDY BESHEAR: Today is a tragic day in Louisville, and for entire Commonwealth of Kentucky. Acts of violence like this hurt and tear at the fabric of who we are and our society, our state, and our country, and a city. Today, I'm hurt. And I'm hurting. And I know so many people out there are as well.

We lost four children of God today. One of whom was one of my closest friends. Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career. Helped me become governor. Gave me advice on being a good dad. One of the people I talk to most in the world and very rarely was talking about my job.

He was an incredible friend. We also lost Juliana Farmer, James Tutt, and Josh Barrick. Each amazing people whose families grieved them. This community will mourn and will miss. These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals that terrible acts of violence [INAUDIBLE] all of us. We also pray for our LMPD officer and two others that right now are stable are still fighting for their lives with the need for our care and just for our prayers because I believe, believe, I believe the prayers lift all of us up and those families would appreciate them.

While I hurt today, while I will breathe when I'm able, I'm also grateful. I'm grateful for an incredibly quick response from the LMPD, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Louisville Fire and Rescue, Louisville Metro EMS, getting to this scene in three minutes. I'm convinced saved other people's lives and I know it saved two other of my friends.

One I received incorrect information this morning I thought was gone. And I started to mourn. And now I know he's OK. And one I got to see in the ER that while it's going to take him a while to heal, it's still good to see my friend, see him there with his wife and know he is still with us.

I want to thank the ATF, FBI, every single law enforcement agency that is going to bring their entire weight and their entire resources there so that we know exactly what happened in this situation. There are more first responders than the ones we've listed, because the team at UL Hospital are first responders too.

The first battle was stopping that gunman. The second was just doing everything we can to keep those that have been wounded alive. And I want to say to this good doctor behind me, and we have worked together through pandemics and now this. I'm really proud of what his team is doing.

I was in a room where one of those families that are rightfully worried got an uptick. And there was one that was specific but also provided with compassion. These doctors and nurses are fighting for the lives of our friends or our family and we are deeply grateful to them.

I think what we need most right now in words is love. We need just love. Love for these families. They're going to need it. I can tell you, I talked to them. I'm very close with one of them. They are going to need that love. We need love for each other.

It seems like we argue so much in this country, so much anger. I still believe that love and compassion and humanity can lead us to a better place. This is hard. It's really hard day after Easter. Easter is about a rebirth, a better world, one where we're all supposed to work together to get there.

What it's supposed to teach us from a savior that came. The world fell in love with him not because of his power, but for his compassion. I believe what we can do whether it's anything or just your values ensure that today, more than anything, it's about these families. It's about those families that are afraid they're going to lose their loved one. About those that have been through the worst and while they survive are going bear the scars inside and outside today. It's got to be about them, the heroic actions of everybody who responded.

And yes, I know, in the days to come we'll talk about issues. I think the thing that people get wrong after the most difficult of times and days, that's [INAUDIBLE] had to see a lot of them. Today, I'll be focused on my friend and everybody else's friends and loved ones that are no longer with us.

My faith teaches me that while the body is mortal, the soul is eternal. So I know that I will see Tommy again. And I know that all of these families and friends in this community are going to be reunited in a better place without violence, without the senselessness and hurt that we feel today.

We will get through this. We'll get through this together. It's the only way. We'll march forward. And my hope is in honor of those that have fallen today or that may still fall, we can do better. We can do better. We care about and love each other just a little bit more. Today, to honor those of the fallen and as so many families grieve, I'm ordering our flags statewide fly half staff until Friday, Friday evening.

Make sure that we are paying tribute to every single part of this Commonwealth for those that we have lost. We are one Commonwealth, united with the city, united with these families. We've got to do a lot in these last three years and wrap our arms around each other. And we need to do it here. Thank you. Next we're going to hear from Dr. Smith who is leading an incredible team trying to make sure as many of those that were harmed in this incident get through it.

Let me just again say that he and his hospital had my full support and confidence. I've seen it firsthand. What they're doing is nothing short of amazing. And listen, I know they're going to do their best. While we don't know what that outcome can be, we ought to be appreciate them for doing their very best.