A gunman opened fire at FreightCar America early Tuesday morning, killing one employee, injuring two or three others and then killing himself, police said.
The deceased victim is a FreightCar employee. The assailant is thought to be either a current or former employee, according to Roanoke Police Chief Tim Jones.
Three victims were taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment of gun-related injuries. One was in serious condition, said Carilion spokesman Chris Turnbull. The other two were considered in good and fair condition.
FreightCar America employs a few hundred workers in what is known as Norfolk Southern's East End Shops along Campbell Avenue SE.
Police say Getachew Fekede opened fire at the FreightCar America facility in Roanoke early Tuesday before killing himself. They say the 53-year-old from Kenya entered the U.S. through a refugee immigration program and was fired by the company in March when he stopped showing up for work.
Clarence Jones, a neighbor of Fekede, says he quit his job because he was being harassed by another man at work. Jones called Fekede "the perfect neighbor." Frank Myers, another neighbor, said Fekede was "an exceptionally nice guy."
Clarence Jones, who said he spoke with Fekede every day, said that Fekede had been sending money to his ill mother.
He was telling me then you know that its going to be a struggle now to try to take care of his mother. He didnt really know what may happen to her now, you know what Im saying? Now that he had no finances coming in you know, so I guess, after a period of time, everything just build up, said Jones.
Jones also said that from talking with Fekede, he knew he had issues with a specific co-worker while working at FreightCar America.
