26 February 2016•Update: 26 February 2016
WASHINGTON
Four people were killed and 14 others injured in a series of shootings late Thursday in Hesston, Kansas according to officials.
Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton said at a televised news conference that the shootings took place in four different locations in the area including the Excel Industries plant in Hesston.
Four people, including the gunman were shot dead, the sheriff added.
“Law enforcement officers killed the gunman, who worked at the plant, after he began shooting at them,” Walton said.
He added that the gunman began "actively shooting at any targets that came into his sights" from his vehicle even before he got into the plant.
According to Walton the gunman was armed with a rifle and a pistol, which were apparently unregistered, as Kansas law does not require a permit to buy firearms.
Several American media sources have identified the shooter as 38-year-old Cedric Ford.
Noting that the entire incident lasted for 26 minutes until the gunman was killed Walton said five of the injured are in critical condition.
"This is just a horrible incident," he said. "There's going to be a lot of sad people before this is all over."
He told reporters that the FBI and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation had been called in to assist.
Excel Industries manufactures lawn care products, including riding lawnmowers, according to the company’s website.
The shooting comes days after a man opened fire at several locations in Kalamazoo, Michigan, leaving six people dead and two wounded.
