Cedric Ford posted this photo on his Facebook page showing him holding a gun. (Facebook)
Four were killed and 14 others were wounded in a series of shootings in Harvey County, Kansas, on Thursday, the sheriff says.
The gunman, identified as Cedric Ford, was shot and killed by police. He was an employee of Excel Industries, where 15 people were shot and three were killed.
The shooter also fired from his vehicle at other cars, wounding three people, on the way to the plant where he worked and opened fire, Sheriff T. Walton said.
He was killed by the first police officer who responded and entered the building alone, exchanging gunfire with the suspect and killing him, Walton said. The officer’s name hasn’t been made public yet.
Excel Industries is located in Hesston, Kansas, a town in Harvey County that has about 3,700 residents. It is near Wichita.
The story is still developing. Here’s what we know so far:
1. Ford Worked as a Painter at the Manufacturing Plant
Cedric Ford. (Facebook)
Cedric Ford’s partner at the plant said no one saw this coming in an interview live on KWCH-TV. He said he recently bought a new truck and there was no indication that anything was wrong. The co-worker said he talked to Ford earlier Thursday.
Another co-worker told the news station he was a “nice” guy and it didn’t seem like he would do something like this. Police have not said they have a motive for the shooting.
Ford lived in Newton, Kansas, the town where one of the shootings occurred. A trailer park there was swarmed by officers about an hour after the initial shootings, KWCH reported. Police with AR-15s and in body armor have swarmed the area, telling anyone in the home to come out with their hands-up. It’s not known if the incident there is connected to the shootings.
Police surrounding excel industries .
2. Police Have Swarmed a Mobile Home Park Where Ford Lived
Sheriff T. Walton said at a press conference that the first shooting occurred at about 5 p.m. in Newton, Kansas. The gunman shot at two vehicles from inside his own vehicle, wounding one driver and missing the other. He then continued on and shot at a third vehicle, hitting the driver in the leg. After stealing that victim’s vehicle, he drove to Excel Industries, where he shot one person in the parking lot, Walton said.
The gunman then entered Excel and shot 15 people, killing three, before law enforcement exchanged gunfire with him. He was fatally shot by officers, Walton said.
There is an ongoing incident at a mobile home park in Newton, Kansas. You can watch live coverage from the local news station KWCH above.
Police with AR-15s and in body armor have swarmed the area. The suspect is believed to have lived in the trailer park.
Another shooting was reported at another location near Excel Industries. A man in a SUV was shot and taken to the hospital, KWCH-TV.
About five bullet holes can be seen in the windshield of the SUV.
3. He Posted a Video Showing Him Shooting a Rifle & Photos Holding Guns on His Facebook Page
Cedric Ford posted this photo on his Facebook page showing him holding a gun. (Facebook)
A photo on Cedric Ford’s Facebook page shows him holding a handgun as a long gun lays across his chest.
He also posted a video showing him shooting a rifle in a field in September 2015:
It’s not known if those weapons were used in the shooting. The photo was posted on February 15.
“Lol I’m ok really just doing my thing as things,” he said in a comment. “Come on it’s sexy a little bit.”
After someone said to him, “Ain’t nothing new my Dogg been having that heat,” he responded, “Every day since I hit them streets … And all my real goons know.”
He also posted a photo on January 30 with the handgun in his lap:
(Facebook)
A witness who said she was shot at during the incident told KWCH-TV that the gunman had a “machine gun.”
4. The Victims Have Not Yet Been Identified
At least 3 ambulances headed to Wichita from Hesston. Active shooter reported down at Excel Manufacturing.#KAKENews
Sheriff Walton said the victims killed in the shooting have not yet been identified. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will be entering the building to identify them and investigate, along with the FBI, the sheriff’s office, and other local and federal police agencies.
Some families have been notified about the wounded victims, who were taken to several area hospitals, some by helicopter.
5. Excel Industries Is a Manufacturer of Lawn Mowers & Turf Care Products
Multiple employees are injured from gun shot wounds. EMS is on scene.
According to Excel Industries’ website, the Hesston-based company is a “leading manufacturer of turf care products,” including the Hustler Turf Equipment and BigDog Mower Company product lines.
According to KAKE-TV, the company expanded in November 2015, creating 200 new jobs at a facility in Kansas City.
The company was founded in 1960 and has been a family-owned business for three generations.
