Police: 4 Dead, 14 Wounded After Multiple Shootings In Hesston, Kansas

Police go through the parking lot of Excel Industries in Hesston, Kan., Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, where a gunman killed an undetermined number of people and injured many more. (Fernando Salazar/The Wichita Eagle via AP)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

UPDATE: Feb. 25, 2016, 10:33 PM ET

Four people are dead and 14 wounded after a suspect fired on a number of sites near Hesston, Kansas, including inside a lawn care company and at random targets on the street, law enforcement officials said Thursday.

Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said in a press conference there were multiple crime scenes involved after a shooting was reported at the Excel Industries plant, including the plant parking lot and two other locations.

“Those are all connected,” Walton said. “He was traveling and shooting from his car.”

The suspect, who Walton said was an employee, was shot and killed inside the plant by responding police. He said something “triggered this individual” to go on the rampage, but said the shootings outside the factory “all looks random” at this point in the investigation.

Police also said the suspect, identified by local media as Cedric Ford, drove through at least two towns while shooting a gun out his car window, according to The New York Times. Police have not publically identified the suspect or the victims.

The gunman was armed with an assault rifle-type long gun and a pistol, Walton told reporters late Thursday.

Walton also said that emergency response teams were at the suspect’s home, where a roommate was preventing officials from entering. He could not confirm if that man was armed.

The shooting was reported at 4:57 p.m. local time and the shooter was down by 5:23 p.m., Walton said.

Excel Industries is described as a “leading manufacturer of turf care products” on its website. Hesston is a city of around 3,700 about 40 miles north of Wichita, Kansas.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback tweeted his support after the attack.

Latest Livewire
69
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for jdmvt jdmvt says:

    Hohum, hohum… Shooting? Another shooting? Whatevs… Like, soooooo, typical… Can’t you report some news?

  2. Meanwhie, the Good Guy with a Gun was over in Memphis, eating some Hot Chicken while the shop replaced his fuel pump…SO CLOSE!

  3. Turf care? Astro-turf? Don’t you just spray it down after someone throws up on it?

  4. Huh. I guess these things don’t work. Best plan, just stay out of Kansas altogether.

  5. What’s your favorite Camus quote?

    Gunz! MOAR GUNZ!!!

    Isn’t that the answer for every mass shooting?,

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

63 more replies

Participants

Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for silvrfox Avatar for jcs Avatar for bikerdad Avatar for jep07 Avatar for leftflank Avatar for chammy Avatar for kufpu Avatar for commiedearest Avatar for dizcuzted Avatar for fourlegsgood Avatar for inversion Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for donnyyoung Avatar for ottnott Avatar for sangsue Avatar for mrf Avatar for darrtown Avatar for pshah Avatar for beattycat Avatar for seedeevee Avatar for sjk Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for pumor

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: