U.S.

UPS Shooter Was Recently Fired, Targeted Co-Workers

A former UPS employee walked into a Birmingham, Alabama UPS center and opened fire Tuesday, killing himself and two co-workers.

UPS Shooter Was Recently Fired, Targeted Co-Workers
WIAT / Mike McClanahan
SMS

A shooting at a UPS center in Birmingham, Alabama has left three people dead, including the shooter.

POLICE CHIEF A.C. ROPER VIA WBRC: “When these people came to work today, they had no idea that this would be their last day here on Earth. … But they were just people working at their job and for them to lose their life is extremely sad.”

According to WBMA, the shooter was wearing his uniform when he entered the UPS center and opened fire. The Birmingham police say he then shot himself before officers got to the scene.

The Birmingham News says identified the man as 45-year-old Joe Tesney, who was married with two daughters.

His mother-in-law told the local newspaper Tesney was "a kind husband and a wonderful father" and that "he's never hurt anyone in his life."

WBRC reports Tesney was recently fired from his job and the two victims were UPS supervisors, quoting a police lieutenant as saying it appeared Tesney "knew exactly who he wanted to target at the time."

Citing a person close to UPS who’s been briefed on the incident, The Wall Street Journal reports Tesney had appealed his termination but was ultimately fired. 

Today’s incident marks the second delivery-company shooting this year: a FedEx employee shot and wounded six people in Georgia back in April.

Both UPS and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley released statements saying their thoughts and prayers were with the families and co-workers of those who died.

This video includes images from Getty Images and The Office of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.