The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., -- A shooting at a manufacturing plant on the city’s outskirts tonight left at least two people dead and several others injured, police said.
A third person who the authorities said may have been the gunman was killed in an exchange of fire with an officer near police headquarters.
Police were releasing very few details about the shooting, at the Modine Manufacturing plant, about five miles west of the state Capitol.
“We’re in the early stages of what is going to be a very complex situation,” said Chief Roger Schroeder of the police department.
Chief Schroeder would not say how many other people had been injured or what kind of condition they were in.
“We have victims at various locations throughout the building,” he said.
Capt. Jim Johnsen said a witness called police about 10:20 p.m. with a description of a truck driven by the gunman. An officer leaving the police building, about six blocks from the state Capitol, noticed it in an alley confronted the driver, he said.
The man fired shots at the officer, and the officer fired back; it was not known whether the man was killed in the exchange or had shot himself, Captain Johnsen said.
Employees’ relatives, who gathered outside the plant, said about 200 people work there. Linda Cade, whose husband, Robert, has worked for 14 years, said he called at about 10:30 p.m. to say there had been a shooting and that he was not hurt.
“I’m shocked, scared that it could happen here and I’m just relieved that my husband is O.K.,” Cade said.
The Modine Manufacturing Company, based in Racine, Wis., manufactures air and oil filters for a variety of engines and has manufacturing plants in a number of countris.
Mick Lucareli, a company spokesman, said he had very few details.
“The loss of any life is terrible,” Mr. Lucareli said from Racine. “We just want to find out the details as soon as we can.”