CHESTER, Pa. (CBS) — Five people were shot, including two killed in a workplace shooting today at Delaware County Linen in Chester, Pennsylvania, according to the attorney general.
At a news conference, prosecutor Jack Stollsteimer said a disgruntled employee entered the linen store and shot five co-workers. Two of the victims were killed, and three people were rushed to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in serious condition.
“We have two individuals who unfortunately lost their lives just by coming to work today by a disgruntled former employee,” Stollsteimer said, “and we have three other people in the hospital right now, and we are all praying for them . »
Chester City Mayor Stefan Roots said at a news conference that one of the victims was the man’s supervisor.
The prosecutor said the shooter tried to escape but was stopped by police in Trainer, Delaware County.
Stollsteimer said a gun was used in the shooting.
The shooting took place around 8:30 a.m. in the 2600 block of West 4th Street. Investigators said the shooting happened both inside and outside the linen store.
Stollsteimer said one person was killed inside the store and another was killed outside.
“This is a tragedy, a story that repeats itself too often in the United States of America,” Stollsteimer said.
In a one-on-one interview with CBS News Philadelphia, the attorney general added that there are “just too many guns in the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.” »
“Here you have someone who is a disgruntled employee of this company, who doesn’t like some of his co-workers for whatever reason,” Stollsteimer said, “and decides to come and kill them. So we have two people dead. These people went to work today like every other day, just thinking they were moving on with their lives and now they are lying on the ground dead. »
“Normal people just trying to go to work. Provide for their family. Living the American dream,” added Stollsteimer. “This morning, before 10 a.m., they died. Their family’s life is ruined. »
The mayor called for stricter gun laws and better mental health services.
“It speaks to the gun issue in America. We have a city facing violence. We have great groups here that cater to it at all levels. It’s heartbreaking. It’s tragic. This has to stop,” Roots said. “Chester, Pennsylvania never thought it would become the epicenter of another episode of workplace violence. We are a very close-knit community. We all know each other. We are all family, and that’s why this hurts so many of us. »
Investigators are not releasing the suspected identity of the shooter at this time.
The mayor said the White House has reached out to the city.
