Posted on 04/20/2006 11:49:42 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - A Tyson Foods Inc. employee who had just been suspended from his job returned to the poultry processing plant carrying two pistols and opened fire, wounding a co-worker before police shot the gunman, officials said.
The victim was shot in the groin but listed in good condition at a hospital Thursday morning. The 24-year-old suspected gunman was in critical condition.
Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said the worker had been escorted out of the plant Wednesday evening but reappeared later that night with weapons.
"While we're still gathering details, we can tell you plant supervisors began evacuating 400 to 500 people from the plant after a worker was seen carrying two guns," Mickelson said Thursday.
Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said Jefferson County sheriff's deputies and local police responded. There was a brief standoff and officers from both agencies fired, he said.
"I would just tell you this was a situation that could have been a whole lot worse than it was," Sadler said.
A worker at the plant told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the gunman had a pistol in each hand and was looking for one employee in particular.
"He shot behind me and beside me," Shuntae Kye told the newspaper. "He had two guns in his hands, and he was walking through the plant shooting."
Kye said employees scattered, trying to hide or get out.
The suspected gunman, identified as Julian English, was hospitalized in Little Rock in critical condition Thursday morning, University Hospital spokesman Jon Parham said.
The victim, Ronny Smith, 34, was in good condition at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, spokeswoman Lisa Rowland said.
Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat producer, is based at Springdale.
illegal alien Muslim from Nigeria, maybe
Where do you think they get the meat. Tastes like chicken! hmmmmm?
Anybody you know?
Tyson employee living in Pine Bluff with the last name of English? Probably black. Purely speculation based on statistical probabiluty...and having lived in Pine Bluff.
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