‘Critical’ shooting incident at Molson Coors’ Milwaukee facility; 7 people killed: report

Six people are dead after a Molson Coors Beverage Co. employee killed five of his co-workers and then fatally shot himself during a rampage at the company’s Milwaukee campus Wednesday, authorities said.

The suspected gunman is a 51-year-old man who worked at the company, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales told reporters during a news briefing. Morales did not identify any of the victims, pending family notifications.

“It’s a terrible day for Milwaukeeans,” Morales said.

Mayor Tom Barrett called the shooting a “tragic day for our city, a tragic day for our state.”

“Six families actually are grieving and will be grieving because of the horrific act of this individual,” he said. “Because there were individuals who went to work today just like everybody goes to work, and they thought they were going to go to work, finish their day and return to their families. They didn’t and tragically they never will.”

Milwaukee police responded to a “critical incident” at the campus after reports of a shooting just before 2:10 p.m., authorities said. The incident was treated as an active shooter situation.

The company tweeted about the “active situation” just before 2:30 p.m. and said: “There is an active situation at our Milwaukee facility and we are working closely with the Milwaukee Police Department. Our top priority is our employees and we’ll provide updates in conjunction with the police as we are able.”

The Milwaukee Police Department tweeted that a “critical incident” occurred near the 4000 block of W. State Street and asked for everyone to stay away from the area.

Milwaukee police are responding to an “active shooter” in the Miller Valley near 41st and State streets. The shooting occurred at the Molson Coors brewing campus.

Milwaukee police are responding to an “active shooter” in the Miller Valley near 41st and State streets. The shooting occurred at the Molson Coors brewing campus.
(Courtesy of FOX 6)

The company told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in an email that the shooter was located in or near Building 4 in the second-floor stairwell.

Molson Coors and the Milwaukee police did not immediately respond to Fox News’ requests for comment.

A company employee told WTMJ-TV that they were told to shelter in place. Officers from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Marquette University Police Department and U.S. Marshals also responded to the scene.

A local elementary school was placed on lockdown as a precaution, the station reported.

Molson Coors Beverage Co. operates Miller Coors and has more than 1,000 employees at its Milwaukee campus, according to the paper. The brewery is an iconic attraction in a city known for its brewing industry.

James Boyles told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his wife, Lasonya Ragdales, works at Molson Coors in the claims department. She was texting from inside the building and told her husband that there was an active shooter and she was locked in a room with a bunch of co-workers, the Journal Sentinel reported.

Milwaukee police responded to a

Milwaukee police responded to a “critical incident” at the Molson Coors brewing facility to reports of a shooting Wednesday. 
(Courtesy of FOX 6)

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Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley was at a company conference in Houston when he was informed of the shooting. He is en route to Milwaukee, the news station said.

President Trump extended “my deepest condolences” to the victims during a White House briefing on his response to the coronavirus. He said a “wicked murderer” opened fire and killed several people.

“A number of people were wounded, some badly wounded,” Trump told reporters. “Our hearts break for them and their loved ones. It’s a terrible thing.”

He said five people were killed and others were wounded.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted her condolences to the victims and called on Congress to “take action” to end gun violence.

“We are closely following developments surrounding the shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,” Pelosi wrote. “Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and the first responders protecting the community. Congress has a duty to them all to take real action to #EndGunViolence.”

Wisconsin U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin also shared their thoughts via social media.

“Gun violence has taken too many lives in Milwaukee and the mass shooting today is heartbreaking,” Baldwin, a Democrat, tweeted. “I want to thank the first responders who ran into harm’s way and saved lives. My office is standing by to help the #MKE community in the wake of this tragedy.”

Johnson, a Republican, offered prayers to those impacted by Wednesday’s violence.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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