Louisville officer critically injured in Old National Bank shooting now fighting pneumonia

Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal
·2 min read
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Five days after the mass shooting at Old National Bank where five people were shot and killed and nine injured in Louisville, Ky., flowers and the word LOVE on boarded-up windows are seen on Main Street downtown. April 14, 2023

Nickolas Wilt, the Louisville Metro Police officer critically injured in last week's mass shooting at Old National Bank, is facing another obstacle at University of Louisville Hospital.

Wilt, who has been hospitalized since the April 10 shooting, has been diagnosed with pneumonia, according to a social media post from the Louisville Metro Police Foundation, citing information provided by the officer's twin brother. Wilt is currently on a ventilator while he remains in critical but stable condition, the post said.

"Please continue to send prayers and healing thoughts to Officer Nick Wilt as he continues to fight for his life after he ran to help those under fire from an active shooter at Old National Bank and was shot in the head," the post said.

Wilt, a 26-year-old officer who graduated from LMPD's academy in late March, was one of eight people injured during the shooting in downtown Louisville. Five people were killed: Josh Barrick, 40; Deana Eckert, 57; Tommy Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64. Wilt was shot in the head by gunman Connor Sturgeon, who was shot and killed by Wilt's field training officer Cory Galloway.

The police foundation has requested donations to help fund his medical expenses through the organization's website or through its Venmo account, @LouisvilleMetro-PoliceFoundati.

Wilt is the last shooting victim still hospitalized. Seven others were treated and released from University of Louisville Hospital.

Pneumonia is "common" for hospital patients on a ventilator, the police foundation post said, and doctors and nurses are working to treat Wilt as he recovers. The post called for readers to "continue to pray" as his hospitalization continues.

Wilt is sure to be recognized this weekend at Thunder Over Louisville festivities, as organizers and Mayor Craig Greenberg said Wednesday the show will include a tribute to the victims of the Old National Bank shooting and the victims of the Chickasaw Park shooting, which occurred in a crowd of hundreds Saturday and left two other men dead – Deaji Goodman, 28, and David Huff, 27.

"What we are is an amazing city, and this Saturday at Thunder Over Louisville, we're going to show the world our hospitality, our strength, our love, our support," Greenberg said at Wednesday's press conference.

More coverage: How to help Old National Bank shooting victims' families

For subscribers: A Louisville corner changed forever: How 9 minutes of terror unfolded at Old National Bank

Reporter Rae Johnson contributed. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mass shooting: LMPD officer Nickolas Wilt now has pneumonia