LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The legacy of one of the victims of the Old National Bank shooting continues with a generous donation.
An anonymous person donated $500,000 to the water step in honor of Tommy Elliott and his wife, Marian Elliott.
The victim of the Old National Bank shooting in downtown Louisville on Monday, April 10, 2023, has been identified as Joshua Barrick, 40. Jim Tutt, 64 years old. Tommy Elliott, 63 years old. Juliana Farmer, 45, and Deanna Eckert, 57 (WDRB Graphic)
Mr. Elliott was a senior vice president at Old National Bank and was one of five people killed in an employee shooting at the bank’s downtown Louisville branch.
In honor of him and his donation, Waterstep hosted an event attended by Elliott’s wife Marian and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a longtime friend of Elliott.
“I want you to think that the generosity that we’re seeing here today is a reflection of his and Marianne’s generosity and all that they’ve done,” Beshear said.
WaterStep is a Louisville-based nonprofit organization that creates sustainable solutions to solve water, sanitation, and hygiene crises around the world.
Mark Hogg, WaterStep CEO, said: “This donation positions WaterStep as a solution to providing safe water around the world.” “With many of our pilot programs now completed and showing significant positive impact in Africa, we are very excited about the opportunity to bring safe water to people around the world in the future.”
Tommy Elliott cross.
Hogg said the donation in Elliot’s honor inspired other donations, nearly quadrupling the amount expected to launch the latest effort.
“Marianne, please know that I believe this vision at this moment far exceeds any recognition or tribute to you and Tommy, because I know that you will continue to support, pray, and support me. “We believe that our people have given us an opportunity to make a difference, changing the lives of millions of people,” Hogg said.
“His (Tommy’s) legacy will live on as long as people continue to do good work in their homes and communities,” Marianne Elliott said.
Marianne Elliott, wife of Tommy Elliott, has recognized her late husband with an anonymous donation made in his honor at Waterstep.
While this donation will make a difference for people around the world, both Beshear and Marianne Elliott also want to bring change closer to Kentucky.
“The day we lost Tommy and his friends and colleagues at Old National was one of the hardest days of my life, but I know it was a very dark day here in Kentucky.” said Beshear.
Kentucky State Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Fruit Hill) plans to introduce a bill related to the Red Flag Act (also known as CARR, Crisis Prevention and Rights Retention) this Congress.
Westerfed introduced two versions of the bill in December 2023.
The law, known as CARR, would allow courts to temporarily remove guns from a person if they are deemed a threat to themselves or others. But some conservatives say it violates their Second Amendment rights.
Marianne Elliott attended a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting where lawmakers debated in support of CARR.
Sen. David Yates, a Louisville Democrat, also supports it. Yates was also a friend of Elliott.
Beshear said red flag laws are not a Democratic or Republican issue and that Kentucky is past the deadline to enact one.
“We trust the courts with the custody of our children, and certainly we can trust the courts to enforce our Second Amendment rights while protecting the lives of our citizens,” he said. “We know that in this instance (the Old National Bank shooting) it may have helped, but it definitely would have helped in other instances.”
Lawmakers have not yet introduced their own version of a red flag law.
Beshear is also pushing for legislation that would ban the auctioning of weapons and guns used in murders.
A foundation has been established in Tommy Elliott’s name. For more information, click here.
For more information about WaterStep, please visit click on here.
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