At least four police officers and multiple civilians are injured after a shooter stormed a manufacturing company in Aurora, Illinois, Friday, according to multiple news reports.
Aurora police chief Kristen Ziman confirmed in a press conference Friday evening that at least five victims are dead. ATF and FBI agents joined local police in responding to the incident. Dozens of ambulances were called to the area, ABC 7 reports.
Authorities say the shooter, identified as 45-year-old Gary Martin, was “neutralized” and is dead, according to The Daily Herald. Ziman said that Martin fired upon authorities immediately after they entered the building, shooting five police officers.
“Several teams of officers went inside to locate and engage the offender. The building is 29,000 square feet, and when they located the offender, they engaged in gunfire with him, ultimately killing him,” Ziman said.
WATCH:
The shooter had worked for the manufacturer, the Henry Pratt Company, for roughly 15 years, according to a worker who witnessed the shooting. About 30 people were in the manufacturing building when the shooting began, according to an eyewitness who spoke with an ABC 7 reporter.
AURORA SHOOTING: Witness John Probst said the gunman worked at the Henry Pratt building and had been an employee there for about 15 years. Probst said about 30 people were in the plant at the time of the shooting. Shooter is in custody. @ABC7Chicago #aurorashooter #aurorashooting
— Stacey Baca (@StaceyBacaABC7) February 15, 2019
Emergency personnel have taken multiple victims away from the scene to a nearby hospital. The policemen injured in the firefight are being treated and are stable, according to CNN. Of the officers who were shot, two were airlifted to Chicago area trauma centers.
President Donald Trump is monitoring updates on the shooting. Democrat Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to attend a press conference with police to deliver a more comprehensive update on the situation.
Ziman also took an opportunity at the press conference to thank the responding officers for their courage under fire. She also offered words of comfort to the victims and their families.
“Thank you for your selfless act. Thank you for running towards gunfire and putting your lives in danger to protect those inside the business,” she said. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families who simply went to work today, like any other day. We offer our sincere condolences.”
This post is breaking and will be updated.
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