"Multiple fatalities" were reported by the Orange Country Sheriff's Office (OCSO) in the US state of Florida in what is being reported as a workplace shooting that took place on Monday, June 5. The "mass shooting" took place in an industrial area on North Forsyth Road in the county.
The OCSO later confirmed that a disgruntled former employee of a local office had opened fire at his place of work, killing a woman and three men on the spot. A fourth man died in hospital, succumbing to his injuries, taking the death toll to five. Sheriff Jerry Demings also said that the shooter had subsequently ended his life.
The OCSO said seven others had been injured -- besides the one who had died in hospital -- but had survived the attack. They confirmed that the shooter was 45 years old. "The shooter was carrying a gun and a knife. He was fired from this business. The individual shot his former co-workers," said Demings.
The official Twitter handle of the OCSO in Florida initially said of the incident: "OCSO working shooting scene that has stabilized. Multiple fatalities. Situation contained. Sheriff will brief as soon as info is accurate. [sic]"
Local reports claimed, and correctly so, that the disgruntled employee took a gun to work and shot up the place. The police as well as K-9 units were called to the area, and were conducting searches there after the incident, said the reports.
The OCSO elaborated on this: "At 8:03 am [local time] we recieved a call from a Fiamma business. The call was for an active shooter. Deputies arrived at the spot at 8:05 am to find four people dead at scene."
The sheriff, meanwhile, ruled out terrorism, saying: "We are all on heightened alert from the tragic incidents across the globe. We cannot connect this incident to any global terrorism." He added: "There are no reports of any specific threats to this business. The shooter's name will be released after the next-of-kin are notified."
