Lockheed shooting

[Justin]

6 Dead in workplace shooting

Fox News story

Lauderdale County authorities said a gunman opened fire at a Lockheed Martin plant outside Meridian, hitting several people.

A local television station reported that seven people, including the gunman, were dead, citing a Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman.

Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie told reporters that the gunman had killed five before he himself died.

A local reporter told Fox News that at least eight people had been injured.

Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith confirmed to Fox News that there had been "multiple deaths, multiple injuries," and that the shooter was "no longer a threat," but that he had no further information.

A sheriff's dispatcher said she could not confirm reports of deaths.

"All we can say at this point is that there was a shooting out at Lockheed and several people were injured," the dispatcher said. "The sheriff is on the scene."

A local radio reporter told Fox News that the gunman, whom he described as a current employee, was armed with a shotgun and semiautomatic weapon.

Officials at the plant declined comment.

Rest of the story:
Fox News story

 

[MessedUpMike]

Here we go again kids:banghead:

Some disgruntled employee just went and shot 13 people in the lockheed facility in Mississippi six dead including the gunman, 8 others wounded.

now word on weapons yet.

 

[J Miller]

The weapons are really irrelevant to the act. More relevant is what caused the person to cary this much stress and anger so long that he exploded in a murderous rage.

 

[Justin]

Oh yeah, and guess what is strictly prohibited by Lockheed Martin company policy.

 

[Justin]

Duplicate threads merged.

 

[12GA]

Six Killed at Mississippi Defense Plant

Report: Six Killed at Mississippi Aircraft Plant

Tuesday, July 08, 2003

MERIDIAN, Miss. — As many as six people were killed in a workplace shooting in Mississippi Tuesday.

Lauderdale County authorities said a gunman opened fire at a Lockheed Martin plant outside Meridian, hitting several people.

Sheriff Billy Sollie told reporters that the gunman had killed five before he himself died.

"He went through the entire plant, shooting individuals through the facility. There was no one small area," Sollie said.

A local reporter told Fox News that at least eight people had been injured.

Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith confirmed to Fox News that there had been "multiple deaths, multiple injuries," and that the shooter was "no longer a threat," but that he had no further information.

A sheriff's dispatcher said she could not confirm reports of deaths.

"All we can say at this point is that there was a shooting out at Lockheed and several people were injured," the dispatcher said. "The sheriff is on the scene."

A local radio reporter told Fox News that the gunman, whom he described as a current employee, was armed with a shotgun and semiautomatic weapon.

Officials at the plant declined to comment and a Lockheed Martin national spokeswoman was unavailable to immediately provide details.

"We're just trying to gather information and are working with state and local authorities to determine the details of the incident," said spokeswoman Meaghan Mariman from the company's Bethesda, Md., headquarters.

The plant builds structural subassemblies for the C-130J Hercules transport plane and the F-22 Raptor fighter-bomber.

Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the United States. The corporation had sales of $24 billion in 2001. It employs about 125,000 people.

Subsidiary Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[cordex]

Michael Moore will love this.
"What caused this man to go on a rampage? Was it the media? Was it the gun? Was it the fact that he worked in a plant that created killdeath weapons for the evil military industrial complex?"

 

[OF]

Oh yeah, and guess what is strictly prohibited by Lockheed Martin company policy.

Bastards!

What are the chances that one of the dead, or wounded or even one of the employees in a position to stop it would have been carrying if they could. I don't think Lockheed has too many blissninnys on the payroll, so I'd bet the chances would have been high.



- Gabe

 

[Sheslinger]

Work place violence

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,91334,00.html

I have no idea what the motive was but I often wonder how many of these cases it would take before corporations cease exploitation of employees. You can only push people so far.

I in no way condone what this person did but I have experienced workplace rage and it is not pretty...

Sheslinger

 

[braindead0]

I normally hate to say "Sue them" but if I were a CCW license holder employed there.. I'd probably talk to a lawyer...

Granted, you can always refuse to work at a place the doesn't let you carry, but sadly I think there aren't many of those.

 

[Ala Dan]

So sad folk's. What on earth has this (civilized, I think?)
society come too? Stress is every where; at home, in
the work place, at play, even on the Internet I suppose.
We all are suppose to be big boy's and girl's; therefore
we need to learn to cope with the matters at hand.

Some folk's walking around are ticking time bomb's,
with NO RESPECT for other human being's; too many
mental disoriented folks, roper doper's, sex offender's,
drug dealers and the like walking the streets these
days! They need to be locked-up, and the key
thrown in the ocean.

HomeLand security should start at Home!

When the tide turns against me, I dial 10-10-P220!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[bogie]

Well, I am _very_ worried, since my company got bought by another larger one, and is getting pruned... More than a few of the folks I work with are rather tightly wrapped, don't become emotional, don't let anything blow off, until they get _really_ torqued... And things are tightening all over... I'm worried that one of these people is gonna snap... I'm 40 seconds from an exit.

 

[Carlos Cabeza]

What makes people crack like this ? This is a key anti argument, that someone "might" go off and shoot people, therefore ALL guns should be under tight regulation. Does stress really compel some people to kill others at random ? Or does the lack of coping skills allow pressure to build up, looking for an opportunity to release ? I have always thought that adversity creates a mentally stronger person. The saying goes "That which does not kill me only makes me stronger" Aside from my reasoning and trying to make sense of this heinous act, my heart and soul goes out to those affected by the terrible and senseless action of one disturbed man.

 

[HBK]

Someone at the factory should have been armed and in a position to stop it. If guns are not allowed, only the bad people who have no respect for the rules will have them.

 

[mephisto]

one guy with a mak could have stoped that whole mess. But why stop the bad guy when easy to stop the good guy.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Not that it's relevant for anything other than political exploitation, any mention on the type of rifle and shotgun?

Why couldn't the just kill himself first and set the cleanup crew sort it out???

 

[12GA]

Update: Many knew killer as a racist

Employee Slays Five Before Killing Self

Employee Slays Five Before Killing Self at Mississippi Aircraft Plant

Tuesday, July 08, 2003



MERIDIAN, Miss. — An employee armed with a shotgun and rifle opened fire at a Lockheed Martin (search) plant Tuesday, killing five people before shooting himself dead.

Eight others, some in critical condition, were taken to hospitals, according to Lauderdale County (search) Sheriff Billy Sollie. The attack in this city of 40,000 near the Alabama line was the nation's deadliest workplace killing spree in two years.

"He had a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle and he appeared to open fire at random on employees," Sollie said.

Authorities identified the gunman as Doug Williams, who was an assembler at the plant. Booker Steverson, another Lockheed Martin employee, said many knew Williams as a "racist" who didn't like blacks. Williams was white.

"When I first heard about it, he was the first thing that came to my mind," said Jim Payton, who is retired from the plant, but had worked with Williams for about a year.

He said Williams had mentioned a desire to kill people.

"He said, 'I'm capable of doing it,"' Payton said.

The first shots rang out at around 9:30 a.m.

"At first I thought it was something falling on the ground. Then I walked to the aisle and saw him aiming his gun. I took off. Everybody took off," said Steverson, who was building an airplane when he heard the gunfire break out.

Sollie said no other individuals were involved and his officers were securing the scene. Investigators had no motive, he said.

The sheriff's department did not immediately confirm the name of the shooter. Sollie said the attacker was a Lockheed Martin employee, but did not know whether the man had been in trouble with his bosses.

"We are not sure if those killed were friend or foe," the sheriff said. "There was no indication it involved race or gender as far as his targets were concerned."

About two dozen people waited near a busy road outside the plant at midday. Law enforcement agents made vehicles go through checkpoints.

John Willis said he drove to the plant when he heard his brother, assembler Thomas Willis, had been shot.

"They've just had us standing out here," John Willis said solemnly, struggling to find words as he awaited word on his brother's condition.

A worker who didn't want to be identified or speak to reporters was offered a cold drink by friends. His hand shook violently as he drank from the plastic foam cup.

It was the nation's deadliest workplace shooting since a software tester in Wakefield, Mass., killed seven people the day after Christmas in 2000.

Officials at the plant declined to comment and a Lockheed Martin national spokeswoman was unable to immediately provide details.

"We're just trying to gather information and are working with state and local authorities to determine the details of the incident," said spokeswoman Meaghan Mariman from the company's Bethesda, Md., headquarters. She says the plant employs roughly 150 people.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove said: "Mississippi's family grieves today for this senseless tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those lost."

Meridian, a city of about 40,000 near the Alabama line, has an economy that depends largely on the military. Besides the Lockheed Martin plant, the area is home to a naval air station and a training facility for the Air National Guard (search).

The Meridian plant builds parts for the C-130J Hercules (search) and vertical stabilizers for F-22 Raptor (search) jets, which are assembled at the plant in Marietta, Ga., along with military transport planes.

Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the United States. The corporation had sales of $24 billion in 2001. It employs about 125,000 people.

Subsidiary Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is based in Fort Worth, Texas.

 

[Mark Tyson]

It doesn't take a gun to commit an atrocity like this. There have been cases of arson where dozens of people have died in minutes. You can't just take people's rights away because of the actions of a few evil miscreants. I don't go pushing prohibition every time I see a DD accident involving multiple deaths.

 

[El Tejon]

The BBC just reported that the murderer's co-workers expressed concern for his mental stability and informed their manager of his behavior and that they feared this sort of attack.

It is a sad day that people fear being fired for possessing the means of self-defense over being murdered. I hope the mommies and Sarah Brady are happy that no one fought back because "they might have been hurt."

They stood there and allowed themselves to be slaughtered just like the media, government schools and the police told them to. Disgusting.

 

[Sportcat]

Unfortunate, but well put El Tejon.

 

[Shaggy]

have no idea what the motive was but I often wonder how many of these cases it would take before corporations cease exploitation of employees. You can only push people so far.

Oh brother.....I would normally just find another job. I don't go storming in killing the co-workers who have little to nothing to do with my "stress"

This is just a product of the "ME" society that has been created the last fifty years. A product of the nanny state in which people believe they are owed a living, a retirement at 60, free health care, free prescription drugs, job security until they are ready to retire....And the prospect of not having some or all of those things....they explode. And they have a mindset of taking as many as they can with them.

CCW should be the law of the land across this nation and their should be no restrictions. Maybe check your gun at the courthouse into a locker, but everybody there passes through metal detector on entrance. The solution to these mass murders is simple really. Leave it to the sane to pop the crazies.

 

[Waitone]

Alright, let's run through the questions

1>how many reports did management have of this guy state of mind?

2>How many co-workers had conversations with the guy where he discussed "getting even."

3>What is Lockheed's personnel policy on legally licensed employees carrying handguns on company property?

4>How many of those shot and either wounded or killed were legally licensed to carry concealed handguns?

5>How many people in the vicinity of those wounded or killed were legally licensed to carry concealed hanguns?

In my not so humble opinion if an employer can be prosecuted for not providing a safe workplace, self-same employer can be held accountable for personnel policies which prohibit workers from effectively defending themselves. One good galactic scale lawsuit will cut this crap completely out. Lockheed is not a defense contractor, it is a slaughterhouse.

 

[Bobarino]

extremely sad incident. the only good thing to come of it is the BG killed himself. at least we don't have to pay for trails and jails. my sympathies for the victims and their families.

Bobby

 

[BamBam]

Booker Steverson, another Lockheed Martin employee, said many knew Williams as a "racist" who didn't like blacks. Williams was white.

Investigators had no motive, he said.

"We are not sure if those killed were friend or foe," the sheriff said. "There was no indication it involved race or gender as far as his targets were concerned."

Gotta throw in the "Racist" thing.
My local TV news described Williams as an "angry white male".
-Angry
-White
-Male
All danger signs!

 

[Standing Wolf]

He had a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle...

See? That proves we have to take all hand guns away from the commoners.