Police rushed to respond to an “active aggressor” at a bank building on Monday morning (late Monday night AEST), warning residents to keep away.
More than an hour later, they said the suspected shooter had been “neutralised” and confirmed at least five fatalities.
Louisville Metro Police Department Deputy Chief Paul Humphrey told reporters at least five people were dead and at least six had been taken to hospital.
He said officers who arrived on the scene “encountered active gunshots still being fired inside the location at that time”.
“The shooter was confirmed to be dead on the scene,” Humphrey said.
“We do not know exactly the circumstances of his death at this time.”
He said one officer was among those injured but couldn’t confirm the status of any of the injured.
Witnesses who left the building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank — not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park — told WHAS-TV they heard gunfire inside.
Numerous police vehicles were seen on television footage. WHAS reporters said they saw people being taken from the scene in ambulances.
In a tweet, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he was heading to the scene.
“Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville,” Beshear said.
The FBI said its agents were also responding to the shooting.
The shooting happened in a building on East Main Street that houses the Old National Bank not far from the Louisville Slugger Field and Waterfront Park.
