5 PEOPLE DEAD, 5 OFFICERS WOUNDED IN ILLINOIS SHOOTING

At least five people were killed and five officers wounded after a gunman opened fire at a warehouse in Aurora, Ill.

The suspect, identified as Gary Martin, 45, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police, officials said.

Authorities responded to multiple casualties in Aurora, west of Chicago, Friday afternoon, including several police officers, after a gunman opened fire inside a Henry Pratt warehouse. The suspect was “neutralized,” according to a spokesman for the City of Aurora.

In an interview with ABC7, Aurora public information officer Clayton Muhammad said the injured officers were in “stable condition.”

Tiffany Probst, 38, a legal assistant said her best friend saw a post on Facebook about the shooting and she started texting “that your dad might be inside!”

Her father, John, has worked as a machinist in the building for over 40 years. He has three grown children and five grandchildren. Probst raced down to the factory but it was all blocked by police.

“I knew there was no way to call him because he’s old school and never has a cellphone,” then she heard from friends father was giving TV interviews and talking with the police.

“He’s safe and talking to the news,” she said. “He’s not much of a talker, but when it comes to this, I can tell by his voice he’s real shaken up. We are looking forward to giving him a hug.”

Gabriel Gonzales, an Iraq War veteran who can see the Henry Pratt warehouse from his front yard, said the number of police vehicles, flashing lights and armoured cars were giving him flashbacks.

“When you are a combat zone you expect it,” said Gonzales. “I’ve never seen this many police officers anywhere.”

He was watching his grandchildren, who were mesmerized by the activity unfolding through the window, and worrying about their brother Anthony, whose school was put under lock down.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth tweeted Friday that she was following the situation. “This is a scary, sad day for all Illinoisans and Americans,” Duckworth wrote. “Thank you to the brave first responders who risked their lives this afternoon and apprehended the shooter.”

“My heart breaks for Aurora,” said Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin.