Nine Dead in Workplace Shooting at Connecticut Beer Distributor

An employee who had been facing a disciplinary hearing at a beer distribution warehouse in Manchester, Conn., allegedly opened fire the morning of Aug. 3 and killed eight people and wounded others before turning the gun on himself.

Laura Walter

Aug. 3, 2010

According to media reports, the employee, identified as Omar Thornton, was called in to Hartford Distributors for a disciplinary meeting the morning of Aug. 3. The Associated Press reported that a union official claimed Thornton had been caught on tape stealing beer from the company.

It was not immediately clear whether the meeting had occurred before the shooting began. Some media reports indicated that the disciplinary meeting could have resulted in Thornton’s termination from the company, or that he may have been asked to resign.

Thornton was a driver for Hartford Distributors and a member of the Teamsters Union. The Associated Press reported that Thornton, who was black, had complained of racial harassment at work and said his superiors had done nothing to address the situation.

Several dozen employees were in the warehouse at the time of the shooting. In addition to the dead, at least two employees were wounded. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

About the Author

Laura Walter

Laura Walter was formerly senior editor of EHS Today. She is a subject matter expert in EHS compliance and government issues and has covered a variety of topics relating to occupational safety and health. Her writing has earned awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), the Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) and APEX Awards for Publication Excellence. Her debut novel, Body of Stars (Dutton) was published in 2021.