Police on Friday evening identified the Aurora, Illinois shooter as Gary Martin, 45. Police Chief Kristen Ziman said in a press conference that investigators believe he was an employee of the Henry Pratt Company, the manufacturing facility where the incident happened.
Ziman said that officers responded to the scene. Authorities made contact with the armed suspect. A gunfight ensued. Martin was killed. The motive remains under investigation. Five people are dead, said Ziman. Next-of-kin notification is ongoing.
“We offer our sincere condolences,” she said.
John Probst, an employee at the company, told ABC hours before the press conference that the shooter was a co-worker who had been there for about 15 years. He said the man ran down an aisle, wielding a pistol with a laser sight. Asked about a possible motive, Probst suggested that the suspect was about to be “let go.”
Probst said he and others escaped from the facility during the shooting. They escaped into a residence and the homeowner, a stranger, let them in. He said he was unaware of any comments made by the shooter.
Five cops were shot in the incident, said Ziman. All were taken to hospitals. A sixth is being treated for a knee injury. Each officer is alive.
“Thank you for your selfless act,” said Ziman. “Thank you for running toward gunfire.”
Editor’s Note: This article was updated with additional information after publication.
[Screengrab via ABC]