Hartford Distributors Shooting: 9 Killed in Conn. Workplace Massacre
MANCHESTER, Conn. (CBS/WFSB/AP) Nine people were killed and two injured after an employee who was about to be let go from a beer distributor outside of Hartford opened fire inside the business Tuesday morning, officials said.
PICTURES: Hartford Distributors Shooting
Multiple workers of Hartford Distributors were shot inside the business at about 7 a.m., police said. Police sources said the gunman, whom fellow employees identified as Omar Thornton, was found fatally shot inside the building before 9 a.m., according to CBS affiliate WFSB.
Receptionist Marissa Busiere told WFSB that she heard another coworker screaming after shots rang out inside the business.
"'He's shooting! He's shooting! Call 911.' And everyone started running out of the building," Busiere said.
The State Firearms Bureau shows that an Omar Thornton purchased two firearms in January. Hartford Distributors employees said that Thornton had been on the job for about two to three years.
Brett Hollander of Hartford Distributors says 50 to 70 people were inside during a shift change. State police Lt. J. Paul Vance says authorities were searching the building to make sure everyone was accounted for.
John Hollis of the Connecticut Teamsters is with company officials at the scene of the shooting. He says the gunman was a driver who had worked at the distributor for a couple of years and been called in for a disciplinary hearing.
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