Deadly Shooting At Missouri Plant

An employee shot and killed three co-workers and wounded four others at a manufacturing plant on outskirts of Jefferson City, Mo., then drove downtown and killed himself during an exchange of gunfire with a police officer near police headquarters, authorities said.

Two employees of Modine Manufacturing Co. died at the plant late Tuesday night; a third died later at a hospital, authorities said.

"He came in (the plant) and began firing," Capt. Jim Johnsen said. He said four others were wounded.

The shots rang out at the plant around 10:30 p.m. as workers were getting ready for a shift change, reports Eric Chaloux of CBS affiliate KCTV Kansas City.

Police Chief Roger Schroeder said victims were found throughout the building.

The man was the only suspect in the plant shootings, Schroeder said.

Police said layoffs were being planned at the plant, reports Chaloux. It is not known whether the shooter was among those scheduled to lose his job.

Johnsen said a witness called police with a description of the shooting suspect's white truck. An officer leaving the police building, about six blocks from the state Capitol building, noticed it in an alley and confronted the driver before the two exchanged gunfire, he said.

Johnsen said the suspect was a man in his 20s from nearby Holts Summit in central Missouri. His identity, as well as those of the victims, was not immediately released.

Officers guarded the outside of police headquarters early Monday, where the suspect's body was covered in a tarp about 30 feet from the front entrance.

Employees' relatives, who gathered outside the plant, said about 200 people work there. Linda Cade, whose husband Robert has worked there for 14 years, said he called at about 10:30 p.m. to say there had been a shooting and that he was OK.

"I'm shocked, scared that it could happen here and I'm just relieved that my husband is OK," Cade said.

After midnight, about 20 workers were still standing in small groups outside the factory gate. One female worker hugged someone waiting outside, crying. One employee, who would not give a name, said the workers were told not to talk to reporters about what happened inside.

Racine, Wis.-based Modine Manufacturing Co. manufactures air and oil filters for a variety of engines, and has manufacturing plants all over the world.

"The loss of any life is terrible," Lucareli said from Racine. "We just want to find out the details as soon as we can."