Eight killed in mass shooting in US city

WASHINGTON: At least eight people were killed in a shooting at a delivery company in the US city of Indianapolis by a gunman who is believed to have then killed himself, police said.

The victims were all found at a Fedex facility where the shooting took place late Thursday, police spokeswoman Genae Cook told a news conference, adding several others had been taken to hospital.

One man who said he works at the plant near the city’s international airport told local broadcaster WISH-TV he saw the gunman start shooting and heard more than 10 shots.

“I saw a man with a submachine gun of some sort, an automatic rifle, and he was firing in the open. I immediately ducked down and got scared,” Jeremiah Miller said.

Cook told reporters officers had responded to an ‘active shooter incident’ at around 11pm 0300 GMT), adding they believe the gunman — who has not been identified — died by suicide.

“The officers responded, they came in, they went in and they did their job. A lot of them are trying to face this because this is a sight that no one should ever have to see,” Cook said.

Authorities judged there was no longer an immediate threat to public safety, Cook told reporters, and police were still gathering information and identify the victims as the investigation into the shooting continues.

“We have located eight people at the scene with injuries consistent to gunshot wounds. Those eight were pronounced deceased at the scene,” Cook said. “This is a tragedy.”

A Fedex spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that the company’s facility was the scene of the shooting, and said the firm was cooperating with authorities.

The plant is reported to employ more than 4,000 people.

Timothy Boillat, another employee, told WISH-TV that he saw around 30 police cars arriving at the scene as he witnessed the shooting unfold.

“After hearing the shootings, I did see a body on the floor,” he said.

“Luckily, I was far enough away to where he (the shooter) didn’t see me.”