The Atlantis Plastics shooting was an incident of mass murder that took place at an Atlantis Plastics factory in Henderson, Kentucky, United States, on June 25, 2008. The gunman, 25-year-old Wesley Neal Higdon, shot and killed five people and critically injured a sixth person before taking his own life.[1] The shooting is the worst in the history of Henderson County, Kentucky, in terms of casualties, surpassing triple homicides occurring in 1799 and 1955.[2]
| Atlantis Plastics shooting | |
|---|---|
 Wesley Neal Higdon | |
| Location | Henderson, Kentucky, United States |
| Date | June 25, 2008 c. 12:00 a.m. (CDT) |
Attack type | |
| Weapons | Hi-Point Model JHP .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol |
| Deaths | 6 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 1 |
| Perpetrator | Wesley Neal Higdon |
Details
editHenderson police said that the shooter, who had a reputation for being difficult, had argued with supervisor Kevin Taylor and was being escorted out of the factory by the supervisor. The shooter apparently retrieved a handgun, shot the supervisor, then went back into the factory and shot five co-workers before turning the gun on himself.[3][4][5] Subsequent reports indicate that Taylor had reprimanded Higdon twice before the shooting, once for talking on his cell phone too much and for not wearing safety glasses, then later for an altercation with co-worker Joshua Hinojosa at a convenience store across the street from the factory.
The victims were all shot with a Hi-Point Model JHP .45-caliber pistol. Taylor was apparently shot by Higdon outside the factory, followed by four more workers in the factory's break room, and finally Hinojosa from behind on the factory floor.[6] Higdon then committed suicide.
Victims
editDeceased
edit- Wesley Neal Higdon, gunman, 25, of Henderson
- Joshua Hinojosa, co-worker, 28, of Sebree
- Trisha Mirelez, co-worker, 25, of Sebree
- Israel Monroy, co-worker, 29, of Henderson
- Kevin G. Taylor, supervisor, 40, of Dixon
- Rachael Vasquez, co-worker, 26, of Sebree
Injured
edit- Noelia Monroy, co-worker, of Higdon
References
edit- ^ Lenz, Ryan (June 25, 2008). "6 dead in Henderson, Ky., plastics plant shooting". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008.
- ^ Smith, Beth (June 26, 2008). "Rampage at Atlantis Plastics ends with six dead". Henderson Gleaner. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
- ^ Goldman, Russell (June 25, 2008). "Six Killed in Factory Shooting, Including Gunman". ABC News.
- ^ Riley, Jason (June 25, 2008). "Factory rampage that kills 6 may have been planned". The Courier-Journal.
- ^ Conlon, Michael (June 25, 2008). "Six dead in Kentucky factory shooting". Reuters.
- ^ Boyett, Frank (June 26, 2008). "Shooting worst homicide here". Henderson Gleaner.