Family of Louisville gunman fights law that would see weapon auctioned

The family of a man who killed five people at a Louisville bank this month is working to destroy the AR-15 rifle he used, despite a Kentucky state law that sends firearms confiscated by law enforcement to auction and uses the proceeds to buy law enforcement equipment.

It was reported, meanwhile, that the gunman, 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, left two notes before he went to the Old National Bank and opened fire.

The family did not comment on the CNN report.

Sturgeon was fatally shot by a police officer.

Usually, confiscated guns are bought at auctions by federally licensed gun dealers. An auction held last year totaled nearly $174,000, according to Kentucky state police.

Greenberg was shot at himself during his campaign last year. Critical of the law, he has sought workarounds that would render crime weapons unusable after they are confiscated by police.

One of the victims of the shooting, 63-year-old Tommy Elliott, was a friend of Greenberg and the Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear.

Eight people were injured, including a rookie police officer shot in the head. Nick Wilt remained in critical condition this week, battling pneumonia. Seven others who were hospitalised have been released.