Atlantis Plastics shooting
Atlantis Plastics shooting | |
---|---|
Part of mass shootings in the United States | |
Location | Henderson, Kentucky, United States |
Date | June 25, 2008 c. 12:00 a.m. (CDT) |
Attack type | Mass murder, murder-suicide |
Weapons | Hi-Point Model JHP .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol |
Deaths | 6 (including the perpetrator) |
Injured | 1 |
Perpetrator | Wesley Neal Higdon |
The Atlantis Plastics shooting was an incident of mass murder that took place at an Atlantis Plastics factory in Henderson, Kentucky, United States on June 25, 2008. The gunman, 25-year-old Wesley Neal Higdon, shot and killed five people and critically injured a sixth person before taking his own life.[1] The shooting is the worst in the history of Henderson County, Kentucky in terms of casualties, surpassing triple homicides occurring in 1799 and 1955.[2]
Details
Henderson police said that the shooter, who had a reputation for being difficult, had argued with supervisor Kevin Taylor and was being escorted out of the factory by the supervisor. The shooter apparently retrieved a handgun, shot the supervisor, then went back into the factory and shot five co-workers before turning the gun on himself.[3][4][5] Subsequent reports indicate that Taylor had reprimanded Higdon twice before the shooting, once for talking on his cell phone too much and for not wearing safety glasses, then later for an altercation with co-worker Joshua Hinojosa at a convenience store across the street from the factory.
The victims were all shot with a Hi-Point Model JHP .45-caliber pistol. Taylor was apparently shot by Higdon outside the factory, then four more workers in the factory's break room, and finally Hinojosa from behind on the factory floor.[6] Higdon then committed suicide.
Victims
Deceased
- Wesley Neal Higdon, gunman, 25, of Henderson
- Joshua Hinojosa, co-worker, 28, of Sebree
- Trisha Mirelez, co-worker, 25, of Sebree
- Israel Monroy, co-worker, 29, of Henderson
- Kevin G. Taylor, supervisor, 40, of Dixon
- Rachael Vasquez, co-worker, 26, of Sebree
Injured
- Noelia Monroy, co-worker, of Higdon
References
- ^ Lenz, Ryan (June 25, 2008). "6 dead in Henderson, Ky., plastics plant shooting". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Beth (June 26, 2008). "Rampage at Atlantis Plastics ends with six dead". Henderson Gleaner.
- ^ Goldman, Russell (June 25, 2008). "Six Killed in Factory Shooting, Including Gunman". ABC News.
- ^ Riley, Jason (June 25, 2008). "Factory rampage that kills 6 may have been planned". The Courier-Journal.
- ^ Conlon, Michael (June 25, 2008). "Six dead in Kentucky factory shooting". Reuters.
- ^ Boyett, Frank (June 26, 2008). "Shooting worst homicide here". Henderson Gleaner.
- 2008 in Kentucky
- 2008 mass shootings in the United States
- 2008 murders in the United States
- Attacks in the United States in 2008
- Crimes in Kentucky
- Deaths by firearm in Kentucky
- Henderson County, Kentucky
- June 2008 crimes
- Massacres in the United States
- Mass murder in 2008
- Mass shootings in Kentucky
- Mass shootings in the United States
- Murder–suicides in Kentucky
- Workplace shootings in the United States
- Henderson, Kentucky