A disgruntled former employee slipped into a Visalia printing plant this morning, shot a worker to death and set several fires before taking his own life.
Police did not identify the dead male employee or the suspect. Print-Xcel General Manager Jeff Trump said 46 employees were working in the sprawling plant when the incident was reported to police at 7:44 a.m.
About two hours later — a SWAT team entered the building, outfitted with oxygen tanks because of thick smoke. Police Sergeant Michelle Figueroa says officers found the suspect´s body lying across the threshold of an outside door.
She also said they found a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol on the ground nearby.
Figueroa said police believe the intruder fired at least half a dozen shots. There´s no word yet on a motive but the company´s general manager tells the Visalia Times-Delta that man was a former employee who had been fired several years ago. Police said rolls of paper had been set ablaze. The company south of Fresno prints payroll checks and mailers.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 4:55 pm