Three killed by co-worker at plant

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A man who fatally shot three fellow plant workers before committing suicide in a police shootout had calmly smoked a cigarette and sipped a soda before clocking in and pulling out a semiautomatic pistol, authorities said.

The shooter, Jonathon Russell, 25, was described Wednesday by police as quiet but beset by personal woes, including being close to being fired at Modine Manufacturing Co. for missing work too often. He also was facing the possible breakup of a romantic relationship, police said.

Russell may have targeted specific victims, investigators said, although they didn't know why the rampage happened soon after a late-night shift change Tuesday. About 140 workers were in the plant at the time.

Two co-workers died along the manufacturing line where Russell had worked for two years. A supervisor, shot 50 feet away, died on the way to the hospital. Five other employees were wounded and being treated at area hospitals.

Planned killing

"This could be that it was more planned than a spur of the moment thing," said Capt. Jim Johnsen of the Jefferson City Police Department. "Apparently these shootings were not at random, but more specific, at these employees."

Roger Hetrick, a Modine spokesman, said Russell was on probation for missing work too often.

"We simply don't know why he did what he did, and we may never know," Hetrick said.

Cole County Sheriff John Hemeyer said co-workers didn't recall Russell talking about his personal life.

"He didn't talk about much at all," the sheriff said. "Prior to the shooting, there was no indication to the employees at Modine that there was anything wrong in his life."

Russell walked out of the plant on the western edge of Jefferson City, about six miles from the state Capitol building, then drove downtown to the police station, where his white pickup truck was noted by a patrolling officer, Johnsen said.

Officer Patrick McCutchen told his dispatcher he had sighted the parked pickup, and he and a rookie officer confronted Russell. Johnsen said Russell fired at the officers and McCutchen fired back with a 12-gauge shotgun. Fleeing on foot, Russell then stopped near the police station's front door and killed himself, Johnsen said.

Authorities didn't know why Russell drove to the police station. Hemeyer said Russell had reloaded the 10-round clip on the Glock .40-caliber pistol, which he bought in June from a gun shop in Jefferson City.

Hemeyer said the pistol was once owned by the Missouri State Highway Patrol -- it is stamped with the patrol's emblem and the initials "MSHP" -- and that it had apparently been legally sold to the gun dealer who sold it to Russell.

No criminal record

Russell lived across the Missouri River in Callaway County, and he had filled out required paperwork to buy a pistol as required by state law, said Sheriff Dennis Crane.

"We checked him out in the computers and he had no criminal record, so there was no reason not to issue the permit," Crane said.

Russell applied for the permit June 4 and it was issued June 7, Crane said.

As others on the evening shift arrived, Russell punched his time card and walked to his work station on a soldering line in the center of the large, open plant, "then he pulled out a concealed handgun" and began firing, Johnsen said.

Two employees were pronounced dead at the scene: Terry Wilson, 44, of Holt's Summit, and Ricky Borts, 29, of California, Mo. Supervisor, Tim Wilbers, 42, died on the way to the hospital.

Authorities could not immediately say whether Wilbers had supervised Russell, but they said the company reported Russell had accumulated work demerits that were leading toward firing.

The five who were wounded at the plant were Jim Veasman of Iberia, listed in fair condition; Mike Crabil of Jefferson City, fair condition; Kevin Rash of Jefferson City, in critical condition; Travis Parker of Ashland, in stable condition; and Bill Gerloff of Chamois, in good condition, the (Jefferson City) News Tribune reported. Their ages were not available.

Parker's aunt, Christy Hargis, said that Parker told her that he was ready to clock in for his third-shift duties when he heard what sounded like fireworks.

When he turned around, Parker saw the gunman about 20 feet away and then felt the wound to his abdomen. After Parker fell, the shooter turned and fired several more times. Parker managed to climb into a metal basket to hide.

Teresa Francisco, who lives across the street from Russell at the Jefferson Regency trailer park, said he and a female companion seemed friendly enough.

"I didn't know him that well. They always kept to themselves," she said.

The single-wide trailer, white with green shutters, was in good condition, but the lawn was weedy and unkempt. Two cars were parked in the yard Wednesday. A dog was inside the trailer.

Governor's veto

Missouri Gov. Bob Holden said he planned to veto a bill today that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons.

Racine, Wis.-based Modine Manufacturing Co. manufactures air and oil filters for a variety of engines and has manufacturing plants all over the world, including several in the United States. Four are in Missouri, in Jefferson City, Camdenton, Joplin and Trenton.

The Jefferson City plant employs 270, and Mick Lucareli, manager of business development and corporate communications for Modine, said from company headquarters in Racine Wednesday morning that the Jefferson City operations have been suspended at least for the rest of this week.

David Rayburn, the company's CEO, said arrangements were being made to provide access to counseling for those who want it.

"We are deeply saddened and our grieving the loss of our fellow Modine employees," Rayburn said in a statement. "Modine's focus at this point is on supporting our employees and their families through this very tragic event."