Solved case · 2012
The short answer
On September 27, 2012, a former employee opened fire at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis, killing five people and injuring four others before killing himself; a sixth victim died of his wounds on October 10, making it the deadliest workplace shooting in Minnesota's history.
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Suggest coverage for Minneapolis Firm ShootingOn the afternoon of September 27, 2012, a mass shooting occurred at Accent Signage Systems, a sign-making business in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The gunman, Andrew John Engeldinger, a 36-year-old former employee of the firm who had recently been fired, walked into the company's building and opened fire with a Glock 19 9mm handgun after being informed of his termination by operations director John Souter.
According to the account, Engeldinger retrieved the handgun from his car before being told he was losing his job. When Souter delivered the news, Engeldinger responded "Oh, really?" and drew the weapon from his holster. A struggle over the gun involving Engeldinger, Souter, and top manager Rami Cooks followed; Souter was severely wounded and Cooks was fatally wounded. Engeldinger then left the office and shot and killed company founder Reuven Rahamim. He proceeded through a sign-display area, killing employee Jacob Beneke, then moved to the loading dock, where he killed employee Ronald Edberg and UPS driver Keith Basinski, who was seated in his delivery truck. Engeldinger then entered the production floor, fatally wounding production manager Eric Rivers and grazing another employee.
The first 911 calls reporting gunfire came in at 4:35 p.m. Responding officers were able to escort some people out of the building while the attack was still underway. Four people were killed at the scene, and a fifth victim died the following day. Three others were treated at Hennepin County Medical Center, two in critical condition; one of them, production manager Eric Rivers, died on October 10 after being taken off life support. Engeldinger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the workplace's basement warehouse. He is reported to have fired at least 46 bullets during the attack.
The six people killed were Reuven Rahamim, 61, the company's founder; Keith Basinski, 50, a UPS driver; Rami Cooks, 62, a top manager; employees Ronald Edberg, 58, and Jacob Beneke, 34; and production manager Eric Rivers, 42, who died on October 10. John Souter, director of operations, was in critical condition as of September 28. Another surviving victim, Battites Wesley, was treated for a graze wound and released the same day.
Engeldinger had lived in Minneapolis for twelve years and was raised in Richfield, Minnesota, graduating from the Academy of Holy Angels. Neighbors and a former coworker described him as socially withdrawn. His family said he had an unspecified mental illness and had resisted treatment, becoming estranged from relatives. Authorities indicated there were signs he may have targeted specific individuals. A search of his home found packaging for 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton called the shooting "senseless," and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who had visited the firm with U.S. Representative Keith Ellison shortly before the attack, described it as "a horrible tragedy."
Andrew John Engeldinger opens fire at Accent Signage Systems in Minneapolis after being fired, killing four people at the scene, wounding several others, and then dying by suicide.
A fifth victim dies from wounds sustained in the shooting; company executive John Souter remains in critical condition; surviving victim Battites Wesley is treated for a graze wound and released.
Production manager Eric Rivers dies after being taken off life support, becoming the sixth fatal victim of the shooting.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Employee who sustained a graze wound during the shooting; treated at Hennepin County Medical Center and released September 28, 2012.[3]
Production manager, age 42, fatally wounded on the production floor; died October 10, 2012 after being taken off life support.[3]
Employee of Accent Signage Systems, age 34, from Maple Grove, killed in the sign-display area.[3]
Director of operations at Accent Signage Systems; severely wounded during a struggle with the gunman and was in critical condition as of September 28, 2012.[3]
UPS driver, age 50, killed while seated in his delivery truck.[3]
Top manager at Accent Signage Systems, age 62, fatally wounded during a struggle over the gunman's handgun.[3]
Founder of Accent Signage Systems, age 61, killed in the shooting.[3]
Employee of Accent Signage Systems, age 58, from Brooklyn Center, killed at the loading dock.[3]
Identified as the perpetrator; a former employee of Accent Signage Systems who carried out the shooting and died by suicide at the scene. No criminal prosecution occurred due to his death.[3]
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