A worker killed two of his bosses and then himself at a Tennessee factory on Thursday.
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A spokesperson says the victims, James A. Zotter, 44, and Sandra H. Cooley, 68, both of Athens, Tennessee, were shot to death shortly after 4:00pm at their workplace on Dennis Street.
The gunman then entered the main part of the facility where he continued shooting “deep inside the factory”, killing two other people, police said.
According to The Daily Post-Athenian, four people were killed, including the shooter.
Swafford was found dead in the bathroom of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Athens Police Chief Charles Ziegler said.
Thomas & Betts is a subsidiary of Zurich, Switzerland-based ABB Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., a global company that makes products used to connect and transmit electricity.
“Our thoughts and prayer are with the victims, with the families, loved ones and friends of those we lost”, Joyce said.
The incident took place at Thomas & Betts factory Thursday afternoon, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said during a press conference. A steel manufacturing organization, the factory reportedly does not have its own security on-site. When he returned with a gun, other employees were able to alert one another about the active shooting situation and evacuated.
“We just told him to get out of the building as safe as he could and just get him as far away as he could”, she said.
“I’m heartbroken today. We as a company are heartbroken. ABB is working closely with authorities to cooperate and assist in their investigation”.
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Authorities said Swafford, who had worked at the plant for more than 15 years, had a state-issued handgun carry permit and no known criminal history. He said employees will be paid during this time of grief. “We mourn as a community and as a community of co-workers”. Special agents continue to interview witnesses as the investigation continues and collect additional evidence.
