The gunman in a deadly shooting spree at a manufacturing warehouse in Aurora, Ill., where five employees were killed and five officers were wounded Friday, was set to be fired by the company, Police Chief Kristen Ziman told reporters at a news conference Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Martin, 45, of Aurora, used a handgun and had worked for Mueller Water Products for 15 years, she said. He was killed at the scene.
“We don’t whether he had the gun on him at the time or if he went to retrieve it,” Ziman said, adding that authorities were not sure if Martin planned the shooting. “We can only surmise with a gentleman who was being terminated that this was something he intended to do, I’m not sure.”
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It was not immediately known if the victims were the managers who were firing Martin. The company employs around 200 people, but authorities were not sure how many were in the 29,000-square-foot warehouse at the time of the shooting.
In a statement Friday night, the company it “is shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific tragedy that occurred today at out Henry Pratt Facility.”
“Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones, the first responders, the Aurora community and the entire Mueller family during this extremely difficult time. Our entire focus in the health and wellbeing of our colleagues, and we are committed to providing any and all support to them and their families. We continue to work closely with law enforcement, with whom we share our deepest gratitude for their support,” the statement continued.
Police conducted a search on Martin’s home, but no weapons were found inside, Ziman said.
Law enforcement officers gather outside the Henry Pratt Co. manufacturing plant Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, in Aurora, Ill. Police say a gunman killed several people and injured police officers before he was fatally shot. (Associated Press)
Several calls of an active shooter were reported around 1:24 p.m. local time at the manufacturing warehouse and officers arrived roughly four minutes later “and were fired upon immediately,” Ziman said.
“Two of the initial four officers entering the building were shot. Additional officers began to arrive and were also fired upon,” she said. “A total of five officers were struck by gunfire.”
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All of the officers were taken to nearby hospitals and two were later airlifted to trauma centers in the Chicago area, Ziman said, adding that “a sixth officer is being treated for a knee injury.”
Five Aurora police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Ziman said. One employee suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
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