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02-26-2016, 09:38
A gunman killed three people in shootings that ended at a lawn care company in Kansas on Thursday, authorities said.
An additional 14 people were injured -- 10 of whom are in critical condition at local hospitals.
The shooter was also killed by police, bringing the total number of fatalities to four.
Authorities first got calls about a man shooting from a vehicle in Newton about 5 p.m., the Harvey County Sheriff's Office said.
Minutes later, there were reports of a shooting at Excel Industries, which makes lawn care equipment in Hesston, Kansas.
"Everybody says it can't happen here," Walton said. "And here we are. It happened here."
'A mellow guy'
Matt Jarrell, a painter at Excel, told CNN that Cedric Ford -- his co-worker and friend -- is the suspected shooter.
"Never in a million years" would he expect his friend to do something like this, Jarrell told CNN affiliate KSNW.
"He was a mellow guy," Jarrell said. "He was somebody I could talk to about anything."
Moments before the two clocked in at work at the same time Thursday, they were talking about Ford's new truck, Jarrell said.
About two hours into his shift, it was time for Jarrell's break. Ford was supposed to relieve him, he said, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Jarrell went outside, and the new truck were gone. A few minutes later, Ford returned in a different car, he said.
"He just parked and then opened up the door, hopped out with the gun on, strapped-up and everything," Jarrell said.
Ford yelled "hey" at a bystander nearby and then shot that person.
"I witnessed him shoot the shots. I saw the shell casings come out of the assault rifle," Jarrell said. "I mean, that vivid. I can still see it."
Authorities confirmed the shooter was an employee at Excel, but did not release a name or a motive. Walton said terrorism is not a factor.
"There was some things that triggered this particular individual," he said, declining to get into details.
Continued (http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/25/us/kansas-shooting/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)
An additional 14 people were injured -- 10 of whom are in critical condition at local hospitals.
The shooter was also killed by police, bringing the total number of fatalities to four.
Authorities first got calls about a man shooting from a vehicle in Newton about 5 p.m., the Harvey County Sheriff's Office said.
Minutes later, there were reports of a shooting at Excel Industries, which makes lawn care equipment in Hesston, Kansas.
"Everybody says it can't happen here," Walton said. "And here we are. It happened here."
'A mellow guy'
Matt Jarrell, a painter at Excel, told CNN that Cedric Ford -- his co-worker and friend -- is the suspected shooter.
"Never in a million years" would he expect his friend to do something like this, Jarrell told CNN affiliate KSNW.
"He was a mellow guy," Jarrell said. "He was somebody I could talk to about anything."
Moments before the two clocked in at work at the same time Thursday, they were talking about Ford's new truck, Jarrell said.
About two hours into his shift, it was time for Jarrell's break. Ford was supposed to relieve him, he said, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Jarrell went outside, and the new truck were gone. A few minutes later, Ford returned in a different car, he said.
"He just parked and then opened up the door, hopped out with the gun on, strapped-up and everything," Jarrell said.
Ford yelled "hey" at a bystander nearby and then shot that person.
"I witnessed him shoot the shots. I saw the shell casings come out of the assault rifle," Jarrell said. "I mean, that vivid. I can still see it."
Authorities confirmed the shooter was an employee at Excel, but did not release a name or a motive. Walton said terrorism is not a factor.
"There was some things that triggered this particular individual," he said, declining to get into details.
Continued (http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/25/us/kansas-shooting/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)