ILLINOIS SHOOTING LEAVES 5 DEAD, 5 OFFICERS HURT

Casualties at business include police officers; killer dead, officials say.

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

At least five people are dead and five officers wounded, officials said. The suspect, identified as Gary Martin, 45, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police, officials said.

Chris Nelson of the Kane County Coroner’s Office confirmed one fatality, though he wouldn’t specify whether it was a victim or the shooter.

An Aurora police spokesman told The Washington Post that “multiple people ... multiple officers” were injured. Rush Copley, a community hospital in Aurora, said in a tweet that it received two patients involved in the shootings, and they were “being treated for non-life threatening injuries.”

In an interview with Chicago’s ABC7, Aurora public information officer Clayton Muhammad said the injured officers were in “stable condition” and the suspect was “neutralized,” though he would not indicate whether the suspect was apprehended alive or dead. Muhammad also told the station that schools came off lockdown around 3:45 p.m. Central time.

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 has five grandchil- dren. 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,” but then she heard from friends that her father was giving TV inter- views 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 Marine veteran who can see the Henry Pratt warehouse from his front yard, said the number of police vehicles, flashing lights and armored cars was 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 lockdown.

“My grandson had a school lockdown at 8 years old. I mean, can you believe that?” Gonzales said. “Back when I was a kid, it was just tornadoes.”

BEV HORNE / DAILY HERALD (AURORA, ILLINOIS) By Michael Brice-Saddler, Emily Wax-Thibodeaux, Reis Thebault Law enforcers gather at the scene of Friday’s shooting at an industrial park in Aurora, Illinois. At least five are dead and five wounded, officials said. The suspect, identified as Gary Martin, 45, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police, officials said.

ANTONIO PEREZ / CHICAGO TRIBUNE Police with rifles gather Friday near a commercial building where a shooter was reported in Aurora, Illinois. The suspect was “neutralized,” a City of Aurora spokesman said.