/ 3 July 2004

Disgruntled employee opens fire in US cafeteria

An employee of ConAgra Foods Inc killed four people in the cafeteria of the plant on Friday, news reports said.

The man carried two handguns into the plant and strode into the cafeteria, where he opened fire, The New York Times reported on its website. The man then killed himself.

Three other people were wounded, one seriously, Colonel Sam Breshears told the Times. A spokesperson at the Kansas City police department earlier said the man killed six people. Police later corrected the number killed to four and the gunman. The shooting took place shortly after 5 pm local time at the ConAgra Foods meat-packing plant, the police spokesperson said.

Police said 160 employees were inside the plant at the time of the shootings. A worker at the plant was quoted by CNN as saying that the gunman, who was not identified, had worked at the plant for a month and a half before being laid off for several months.

Workers at the plant prepare and package processed meats and breaded chicken patties. ConAgra, based in Omaha, Nebraska, issued a statement expressing ”heartfelt sympathies” to the families of those involved in the shooting. The company is one of the nation’s largest agribusinesses with $19,8-billion in sales last year.

Workplace shootings, usually carried out by disgruntled employees or former employees, have claimed dozens of lives in the United States in recent years. — Sapa-DPA