GreekChat.com Forums  

Go Back   GreekChat.com Forums > GLO Specific Forums > Delta > Delta Sigma Theta
Register FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

» GC Stats
Members: 329,720
Threads: 115,665
Posts: 2,204,947
Welcome to our newest member, kingallen
» Online Users: 1,641
1 members and 1,640 guests
kingallen
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-08-2003, 03:40 PM
D.COM D.COM is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Gator Nation
Posts: 418
Send a message via ICQ to D.COM Send a message via AIM to D.COM Send a message via Yahoo to D.COM
Unhappy Gunman Kills 5, Self at Miss. Lockheed Factory

It's a crazy and scary world out there...I don't understand WHY or WHAT goes through people's minds sometimes...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...plant_shooting

Gunman Kills 5, Self at Miss. Factory
14 minutes ago Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

By MATT VOLZ, Associated Press Writer

MERIDIAN, Miss. - A factory worker known as a racist who talked about murdering others opened fire with a shotgun and a rifle at a Lockheed Martin plant Tuesday, killing five people before fatally shooting himself, authorities said.

Dozens of employees at the aircraft parts plant frantically rushed for cover after the gunman started firing in the nation's deadliest workplace shooting in 2 1/2 years. As many as eight people were wounded, some critically.

"At first I thought it was something falling on the ground. Then I walked to the aisle and saw him aiming his gun. I took off. Everybody took off," said Booker Steverson, a Lockheed Martin employee who was helping assemble an airplane when he heard the first shot.

Authorities identified the gunman as Doug Williams, who was an assembler at the plant in this city of 40,000 near the Alabama line. Steverson said Williams was known as a racist who did not like blacks. Williams was white.

"When I first heard about it, he was the first thing that came to my mind," said Jim Payton, who is retired from the plant, but had worked with Williams for about a year.

He said Williams had talked about wanting to kill people. "I'm capable of doing it," Payton quoted Williams as saying.

Sheriff Billy Sollie he had no information on whether the gunman had been in trouble with his bosses.

"We are not sure if those killed were friend or foe," the sheriff said. "There was no indication it involved race or gender as far as his targets were concerned."

Sollie said no other individuals were involved and his officers were securing the scene.

"He had a shotgun and a semiautomatic rifle and he appeared to open fire at random on employees," Sollie said.

About two dozen people waited near a busy road outside the plant at midday. Law enforcement agents made vehicles go through checkpoints.

John Willis said he drove to the plant when he heard his brother, assembler Thomas Willis, had been shot.

"They've just had us standing out here," John Willis said solemnly, struggling to find words as he awaited word on his brother's condition.

A worker who didn't want to be identified or speak to reporters was offered a cold drink by friends. His hand shook violently as he drank from the plastic foam cup.

It was the nation's deadliest workplace shooting since a software tester in Wakefield, Mass., killed seven people the day after Christmas in 2000.

Officials at the plant declined to comment and a Lockheed Martin national spokeswoman was unable to immediately provide details.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove said: "Mississippi's family grieves today for this senseless tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those lost."

Meridian has an economy largely dependent on the military. Besides the Lockheed Martin plant, the area is home to a naval air station and an Air National Guard training facility.

The Meridian plant employs about 150 people and builds parts for C-130J Hercules transport planes and vertical stabilizers for F-22 Raptor jets.

Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the United States. The corporation had sales of $24 billion in 2001. It employs about 125,000 people.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-08-2003, 03:53 PM
treblk treblk is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: CA to VA to MD
Posts: 2,134
Send a message via Yahoo to treblk
Oh my...

What is this world coming to.

My prayers goes out to the families
__________________
We live today, only today and should live it carefully
for all we do, all we say..should kind and loving be!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-09-2003, 12:06 AM
RedefinedDiva RedefinedDiva is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: ATL/NOLA
Posts: 4,755
My problem is that Lockheed/Martin has not come out against the racist behavior. The story revolves around him being a KNOWN RACIST that constantly threatened violence. How can they allow someone like that to continue working for their company?

I swear that I can't wait to finish law school! Stories like this make me CRAZY!! My friends always laugh at me, but there is great need for more civil rights leaders out here. No one seems to be stepping up to the plate anymore. Where are all the Thurgoods, Martins, Malcolms, Nelsons, etc. of our generation?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-09-2003, 11:05 AM
vanda vanda is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: The city with the beautiful Lake Michigan skyline and Deep dish pizza!
Posts: 1,009
Quote:
Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
Where are all the Thurgoods, Martins, Malcolms, Nelsons, etc. of our generation?

Sadly it seems as if the leaders of today don't get media coverage or if speaking out doesn't further their agenda, they really don't care anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-09-2003, 11:36 AM
soulfulremix soulfulremix is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 505
RedefinedDiva, you are my new hero!!


**Edited b/c I posted a reply to the wrong thread.**
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.