2 dead at Seymour Cummins Engine Plant
Not sure what else to say when it happens at your work place, just glad I'm not at that plant today. All known contacts there are safe.
UNCONFIRMED / UNOFFICIAL REPORTS - Murder / Suicide. No "official" names, but a few buddies believe they recognize the person being said is the shooter as an engineer. Employee reviews have started for last half of 2015, so keep that in mind...
I am ok, an have talked to a few other INGO members that work at that site and also know they are ok. Tough times for sure. Keep us all in your thoughts and prayers, as well as the families of the victim(s). It is going to take a while to heal, that's for sure. As things become official we'll learn who was involved, and there will be more questions than answers, and all sorts of wild speculation as to why it happened.
I think I speak for a lot of us that work there that we'd appreciate your respect for the victim(s) as well as respect the privacy of those of us that were there today. With time we'll likely open up about what we heard and saw and even what we've learned as a result.
I did want to give kudos to our ERT's and the first responders. Very quick response, and very professional handling of the situation. I talked to several SPD guys before leaving and let them know I appreciated them heading into danger within minutes of the incident. No matter how many times you see it in the movies or on TV, you are never quite ready to see a SWAT team in full kit rushing in to clear your work space.
A big thank you to those that also called or texted to check on our well-being. You don't know how much that means in a situation like this.
Thoughts and prayers to the victim's family and to those affected by this. I have several friends that work there who are all OK. As a contractor, I have worked at SEP quite a bit and have gotten to know several folks that work in facilities.
My brother was there today as a member of Columbus SWAT.
You just never know...
I was on the 2nd floor when it happened. Heard a burst of shots, a short pause, then what I thought was 2 more....could be wrong on that. Not sure how a suicide could result in 2 shots, but obviously everyone's recollection is absolute **** in situations like this.
To me, there was no question it was gun shots, but a few people were thinking maybe it was construction noise or something else. We quickly made it outside. I was amazed at how many people that work on the same floor or downstairs didn't hear a thing. Apparently the new offices are incredibly well insulated.
Later on when I was allowed to grab my things from the desk I was working at, I realized the room where it happened was only 6-8 ft from where I was sitting at the time. I estimated I was 30-45 ft away from it when it happened. ...turns out I was MUCH closer. If no one was sitting to my right, I think I was likely the closest one to the room where it happened. It's absolutely amazing how much the shots were muffled. Still loud, obviously, but a fraction of what I would have thought.
I was surprised at how calm I stayed. Everyone was extremely calm outside, but I think that was mainly due to very few people actually knowling what had happened. Huge adrenaline dump on my part, that I still am feeling the effects of...haven't had the juices flowing like that in a while. I'll admit I was actually more shaken when I realized after I got my stuff later how close to it I really was vs. when it actually happened. I'm all good though, just happy to be safe and sound at home with the fiancé.
Amazing that no one was hurt by any stay rounds/pass-thrus (silver-linings and all that). Thin walls and lots of people on the 2nd floor. The gun guy in me is very curious where the rounds ended up.
Incredibly sad for the families, but very thankful more people weren't hurt. Honestly, it being a GFZ, it could have been far, far worse.
Keep your loved ones a bit closer tonight, and keep the families in your thoughts and prayers.
I was on the 2nd floor when it happened. Heard a burst of shots, a short pause, then what I thought was 2 more....could be wrong on that. Not sure how a suicide could result in 2 shots, but obviously everyone's recollection is absolute **** in situations like this.
To me, there was no question it was gun shots, but a few people were thinking maybe it was construction noise or something else. We quickly made it outside. I was amazed at how many people that work on the same floor or downstairs didn't hear a thing. Apparently the new offices are incredibly well insulated.
Later on when I was allowed to grab my things from the desk I was working at, I realized the room where it happened was only 6-8 ft from where I was sitting at the time. I estimated I was 30-45 ft away from it when it happened. ...turns out I was MUCH closer. If no one was sitting to my right, I think I was likely the closest one to the room where it happened. It's absolutely amazing how much the shots were muffled. Still loud, obviously, but a fraction of what I would have thought.
I was surprised at how calm I stayed. Everyone was extremely calm outside, but I think that was mainly due to very few people actually knowling what had happened. Huge adrenaline dump on my part, that I still am feeling the effects of...haven't had the juices flowing like that in a while. I'll admit I was actually more shaken when I realized after I got my stuff later how close to it I really was vs. when it actually happened. I'm all good though, just happy to be safe and sound at home with the fiancé.
Amazing that no one was hurt by any stay rounds/pass-thrus (silver-linings and all that). Thin walls and lots of people on the 2nd floor. The gun guy in me is very curious where the rounds ended up.
Incredibly sad for the families, but very thankful more people weren't hurt. Honestly, it being a GFZ, it could have been far, far worse.
Keep your loved ones a bit closer tonight, and keep the families in your thoughts and prayers.