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.

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