5 Dead in Aurora, IL Mass Shooting

5 Dead in Aurora, IL Mass Shooting

A gunman killed five people and wounded several more in a workplace violence situation on Friday in Aurora, Illinois. Here's what we know.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Feb 19, 2019

An HR meeting turned deadly when a gunman shot and killed five Henry Pratt manufacturing plant employees after learning that he'd been fired Friday in Aurora, Ill.

The gunman shot and killed three people who had called him into a meeting and then continued shooting and killing two more employees and injuring one before being confronted with police. Six police officers were injured in the incident, but are all expected to survive.

Police shot and killed the gunman, who open fired on them, ending the active shooter situation, which triggers a heavy police response in Aurora, just 40 miles from Chicago. 

After identifying the suspect, police told reporters that the suspect should not have had a gun, as he had previously been arrested six times and had a felony conviction in Mississippi. It is believed that the suspect knew that it was possible that he would be getting fired, and brought the gun into the HR meeting with him, according to Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman. Chief Ziman said the shooting happened right after he was fired.

Chief Ziman said the .40-caliber handgun had been purchased in 2014, weeks after he was issued a Firearm Owner's Identification Card. Days after he got the weapon, he applied for a concealed carry permit, but during the finger printing process, it was discovered that he had a felony conviction for aggravated assault. Once a felony of this caliber is found, the offender's conceal and carry permit should be reject and his FIOD card should be revoked. Chief Ziman said she believes no one followed up with the suspect's firearm.

"Absolutely, he was not supposed to be in possession of a firearm," Chief Ziman said. 

He five victims of the shooting at Clayton Park, human resources manager, Trevor Wehner, Northern Illinois University student and human resources intern, Russell Beyer, mold operator, Vincent Juarez, stock room attendant and fork lift operator, and Josh Pinkard, plant manager.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.