Five dead, police officers injured in mass shooting at manufacturing plant outside Chicago
On Friday, a gunman killed five and wounded five police officers at the Henry Pratt Company manufacturing plant in Aurora, a suburb southwest of Chicago.
"It's a shame that mass shootings such as this have become commonplace in our country," said Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin. "It's a shame that a cold and heartless offender would be so selfish as to think he has the right to take an innocent life. But we as a society cannot allow these horrific acts to become commonplace."
The shooter, a 45-year-old employee named Gary Martin, was also killed. His motive remains unknown.
President Donald Trump and Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth all responded to the tragedy:
Great job by law enforcement in Aurora, Illinois. Heartfelt condolences to all of the victims and their families. America is with you!— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1550272275.0
My heart breaks for Aurora. I'm tracking updates on the situation with my staff. Thank you to the members of law en… https://t.co/LYT2hfZXip— Senator Dick Durbin (@Senator Dick Durbin) 1550265777.0
I am monitoring the situation in Aurora, Illinois. This is a scary, sad day for all Illinoisans and Americans. Than… https://t.co/dboDMRrBuD— Tammy Duckworth (@Tammy Duckworth) 1550265333.0
According to Vox, this is the 39th mass shooting in America since the start of 2019. Definitions of what constitutes a mass shooting vary, but incidents in which four or more people are killed in a public place with a firearm unrelated to other criminal activity have been growing deadlier in recent years, even as gun homicides as a whole have declined over the last few decades.
