US: Five People Die in Mass Shooting at Illinois Manufacturing Plant, Suspect Killed

Martin is believed to have been working for Henry Pratt Co. where he went on the rampage.

Aurora, Ill.: Five people have died in a mass shooting in Aurora, Illinois, said reports on Saturday.  The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Gary Martin, has also been killed.

Martin is believed to have been working for Henry Pratt Co. where he went on the rampage.

Five officers were struck by gunfire while responding to the incident, officials said. The civilians killed had not been officially identified.

“Thank you for your selfless act. Thank you for running towards gunfire and putting your lives in danger to protect those inside the business,” Aurora police chief Kristen Ziman was quoted as saying.

At a press conference, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin said, “A shame these shootings are commonplace, a shame that someone would be so selfish to think he has the right to take an innocent life. We as a society cannot allow the heartless acts to become a spot on the 10 o’clock news.”

On Friday afternoon, emergency crews had responded to a call from Henry Pratt Co., located west of Chicago, about an active shooter, reported WMAQ-TV.

Some injured from the shooting were sent to Mercy Medical Center and Rush Copley Medical Center, according to a Mercy spokesperson. A report said a school and two businesses in Aurora went on lockdown but that was lifted later.

Earlier, a SWAT team and other law enforcement officers were deployed.