'Horrific shooting:' 5 employees killed at Molson Coors campus in Milwaukee's Miller Valley
Updated: 9:38 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2020
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In a news conference Wednesday night, Chief Morales said the scene at Molson Coors is secure and all employees on scene have been allowed to go home.
"We are grieving, the families are grieving, the union brothers and sisters are grieving, our city is grieving and our state is grieving," said Mayor Tom Barrett said in a news conference Feb. 26.
"This cowardly act of violence is something that we have to make sure is never repeated in this community."
Officers found the suspect, a 51-year-old Milwaukee man, dead. Chief Morales says it appears he shot himself.
Five people were found dead, all of them Molson Coors employees.
Chief Morales thanked all of the officers that responded. He said they will not be identifying victims Wednesday night out of respect for families coming in from out of town.
"The Milwaukee Police Department sends condolences to families of victims, employees of Miller Coors company and I can say together Milwaukee is grieving today," Chief Morales said.
"All across Milwaukee and Wisconsin there are folk that are associated in some way with our employees at Molson Coors, and I'd ask you to stay close with them, especially the families of those that lost their lives today," said Molson Coors President and CEO Gavin Hattersley.
Many of the top executives at Molson Coors were in Houston for a distributor conference Wednesday. Hattersley abruptly flew back to Milwaukee when executives learned of the situation.
Molson Coors says their Milwaukee offices will be closed through the week, and the brewery closed indefinitely.
------
Updated: 6:48 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2020
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Five Molson Coors employees were killed when a 51-year-old Milwaukee man opened fire inside the workplace on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The 51-year-old suspect then turned the gun on himself.
In a tweet Wednesday evening, Molson Coors said the following:
— Molson Coors Beverage Company (@MolsonCoors) February 27, 2020
Chief Morales says more than 1,000 employees were working when the shooting happened, so they had to go through a roll call and identify who is missing.
More than 20 buildings also had to be secured.
------
Updated: 5:33 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2020
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Multiple people are dead following a shooting at Molson Coors Brewery in Milwaukee's Miller Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett confirmed the shooter is dead. He called it a "horrific shooting."
Molson Coors released the following statement on the "active situation" happening in the Miller Valley Wednesday, Feb. 26.
PHOTO GALLERY
------
Updated: 3:49 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2020
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Agencies from across the area are responding to a "critical incident" in Milwaukee's Miller Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
BREAKING: ATF (Milwaukee, WI Field Office) is responding to the scene of an active shooter at the MillerCoors Building in Milwaukee, WI. pic.twitter.com/Z4fj0oinm5
— ATF Chicago (@ATF_Chicago) February 26, 2020
Businesses and a school are on lockdown as authorities are at the scene.
Story Elementary School released the following statement:
"Current families of students at Milwaukee Public School Story School can pick up their children. Busses are available to take students home. NO students will be allowed to walk home. Families can pick up students from the school and students can take their bus home. Families can continue to call Story School to receive updated information."
------
Published: 2:34 p.m. on Feb. 26, 2020
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There is a critical incident happening near 38th and State Streets in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The incident is near the Molson Coors campus.
Milwaukee police are asking for people to clear the area at this time.
MPD is investigating a critical incident in the 4000 block of W. State Street. Please stay clear of the area at this time.
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) February 26, 2020
BREAKING: MPD has media staging set up at 35th & State. There are multiple EMS crews, officers running pic.twitter.com/Qiyq4WuVCu
— Brittany Lewis (@brittlewisnews) February 26, 2020
According to the Wisconsin Humane Society, the Milwaukee campus was put on lockdown due to a report of an active shooter.
Story Elementary School, located on Kilbourn Avenue, is also on lockdown. Students are being held inside until the area is clear.