It's too early to tell what led Omar S. Thornton to go to the beer distributor warehouse outside Hartford, Conn., where he worked and to gun down nine workersbefore turning the gun on himself.
Initial reports from the labor union that represented Thornton, 34, say that he had a "disciplinary problem" and that he was racially harassed at work and supervisors did nothing to remedy the situation. Those reports shine a bright light on the potentially explosive situations in our modern workplaces.
Thornton had been disciplined earlier in the day for taking beer from his job, according to police sources. At a meeting with supervisors, he was given a choice of quitting or being fired. As he was being escorted from the building, Thornton secured a gun and began firing at co-workers, according to authorities.
The Mother of a woman Thornton dated told reporters that he has long complained about racism at the plant, where the word "nigger" and pictures of a noose appeared in a bathroom stall.
In these times of economic turmoil, when many of us are worried where the next mortgage payment is coming from, it's easy to see how office slights, real or perceived, can erupt into violence. Add race to the mix and you have a recipe for disaster.
To tell the truth, with these growing tensions and easy access to high-powered weapons (thanks, NRA lobby), I'm actually surprised and thankful we don't see more cases like Tuesday's shooting at Hartford Distributors.
Its obvious that no sane person takes a gun in to a workplace, much less uses it in an act of violence, but I suspect a tiny part of a lot of people who have been subjected to racially or sexually hostile workplaces know the pain of having their allegations dismissed.
So far, there seem to be few hints to suggest Thornton was capable of an act so horrific. Apart from two speeding tickets, he appeared to steer clear of serious criminal charges. Thornton had filed for bankruptcy in 2000 under the name of Thornton Omar Sharriff.
As the family and friends of both the victims and shooter emerge from their shock and grief, a fuller picture of what triggered the massacre will emerge.
But that doesn't mean that employers and workplace managers have to delay their efforts to watch for warning signs from troubled employees in order to make their offices safer.
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23-July-10 - Could it be that Rangel simply forgot the rules? Did it slip his mind that he wasn't supposed to use his letterhead to get corporate donations for a building named after him, as charged? That's not the Charlie Rangel I knew, but that Rangel will surely be exposed when his trial starts.
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23-July-10 - A child pyromaniac is suspected of murdering his mother and siblings, setting fire to his home, and then slitting his own throat with a razor.
22-July-10 - Ieshuh Griffin is a legislative candidate from Wisconsin who seems willing to do whatever it takes to get elected. In the five words that candidates are allowed to put on the ballot to describe themselves, Griffin put the phrase, "Not the white man's b*tch."
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itkonly and interracial you two are some sick people. Everyday I come on here and hear sand stories you two clowns advertise in the comments section. No respect for anyone as long as you make money.. Stop being so distrespectful. You are pathetic.
If Mr. Thornton's union was a part of the AFL-CIO, I can understand their denial of complaints about discriminatory mistreatment. The same sort of non-merit harrassment happened to me, and my union even sued ME for requesting representation.
WHO KNOWS WHAT GO'S THROUGH PEOPLES MINDS WHEN THEY COME ALIVE IN THE MORNING? WHAT DEMONS ARE TAKING OVER THERE MINDS OR RAGE READY TO EXPLODE INSIDE THEM? IF YOU BECOME THE REASON FOR THERE DEMISE IN LIFE, YOUR IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.SO, TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, THATS ALL ANYONE WANTS. YOU GET MORE WITH HONEY THEN VINAGER.THAT SAID,SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECAME KILLERS. IT MAY COME TO A POINT THAT COMPANYS WILL SPEND MORE MONEY ON SECURITY THEN IF THEY KEPT THE WORKERS THEY LET GO.
I can't believe the author didn't mention that the shooter had racial discrimination charges with the company, and complained about racial harassment. People get fed up.
I did not excuse anyone's actions. I am merely identifying a possible motive for the shooter's actions. If there was not any workplace racism/white supremacy , this tragic incident could have possibly been avoided. The whole picture needs to be analyzed , not just his actions and the results.
Gary Williams, i think what vic was saying is that this guy targeted certain people who conciously mistreated him because of his nonwhiteness. I suspect this IS the case, and if my suspicion is true, I don't have any remorse for any of the people that died (or their families). Why should i have remorse for a racist? Why should i have any affinity for racists? This still doesn't condone his actions, but hey...this is a clear case of black rage and what racism does to the psyche of us subhuman savages known as black people (and brown, red, yellow, etc). Were there no racism, this probably would not happen. Honestly, we hear of white folk shooting up their jobs all the time..but this is maybe the second time i've heard of a n**** shooting up their job. There must be a reason.
The above comments from Vickiss and dtrainakatek have to be the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. How can you condone what this piece of garbage did, I don't care how much harrassment he was subjected too, and by the way he never filed a complaint. All people of every color are subjected to teasing, harrassment etc by co workers, get another job if it bothers you so much, you don't shoot people and we as a civilized people do not condone this behaviour nor should we make excuses for it - do you even know if any of the victims were black or white?? This author should put his pen away and find another line of work.
Nobody ever said that they were condoning him for his actions or making excuses...The point here is that both parties were WRONG! And it is very sad how we "humans(one species)" treat each other and as a result it affects some people more than others and tragic things such as this happen. Whether he reported it or not, neither victim(s) is/are alive to say what really happened. So I encourage everyone to take this as a lesson learn!!
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Comments: (128)
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By: Vickiss on 8/03/2010 6:14PM
Could this be an example of M.E.C.A.?
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By: sissy2004 on 8/04/2010 3:25PM
itkonly and interracial you two are some sick people. Everyday I come on here and hear sand stories you two clowns advertise in the comments section. No respect for anyone as long as you make money.. Stop being so distrespectful. You are pathetic.
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By: petsinger on 8/04/2010 8:32PM
If Mr. Thornton's union was a part of the AFL-CIO, I can understand their denial of complaints about discriminatory mistreatment. The same sort of non-merit harrassment happened to me, and my union even sued ME for requesting representation.
In the long run, only taxpayers suffered.
See YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im7UGqKfeiQ
or simply seach YouTube for "Christian job harrassment costs taxpayers big buck$."
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By: joe caprio on 8/03/2010 6:59PM
WHO KNOWS WHAT GO'S THROUGH PEOPLES MINDS WHEN THEY COME ALIVE IN THE MORNING? WHAT DEMONS ARE TAKING OVER THERE MINDS OR RAGE READY TO EXPLODE INSIDE THEM? IF YOU BECOME THE REASON FOR THERE DEMISE IN LIFE, YOUR IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.SO, TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT, THATS ALL ANYONE WANTS. YOU GET MORE WITH HONEY THEN VINAGER.THAT SAID,SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD MENTAL PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECAME KILLERS. IT MAY COME TO A POINT THAT COMPANYS WILL SPEND MORE MONEY ON SECURITY THEN IF THEY KEPT THE WORKERS THEY LET GO.
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By: Vickiss on 8/03/2010 7:56PM
I can't believe the author didn't mention that the shooter had racial discrimination charges with the company, and complained about racial harassment. People get fed up.
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By: rik on 8/03/2010 9:18PM
Boy oh boy
Even if he did have charges, so damn what? Ive got a complaint so let me blast 8-10 people.
Im fed up, so let me take 8 lives, what are u stupid? Im sorry, i mean how stupid are u?
Furthermore there were "NO" charges againsnt anybody. "NO" formal complaints to the union, eeoc, or his work place.
This guy was a thief, and they were about to can his sorry azz. Im "not" suprised u didnt mention that!
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By: Vickiss on 8/03/2010 10:47PM
I did not excuse anyone's actions. I am merely identifying a possible motive for the shooter's actions. If there was not any workplace racism/white supremacy , this tragic incident could have possibly been avoided.
The whole picture needs to be analyzed , not just his actions and the results.
Report This
By: dtrainakatek on 8/04/2010 9:38AM
Gary Williams, i think what vic was saying is that this guy targeted certain people who conciously mistreated him because of his nonwhiteness. I suspect this IS the case, and if my suspicion is true, I don't have any remorse for any of the people that died (or their families). Why should i have remorse for a racist? Why should i have any affinity for racists?
This still doesn't condone his actions, but hey...this is a clear case of black rage and what racism does to the psyche of us subhuman savages known as black people (and brown, red, yellow, etc). Were there no racism, this probably would not happen. Honestly, we hear of white folk shooting up their jobs all the time..but this is maybe the second time i've heard of a n**** shooting up their job. There must be a reason.
Report This
By: James on 8/05/2010 9:27AM
The above comments from Vickiss and dtrainakatek have to be the most ridiculous statements I have ever read. How can you condone what this piece of garbage did, I don't care how much harrassment he was subjected too, and by the way he never filed a complaint. All people of every color are subjected to teasing, harrassment etc by co workers, get another job if it bothers you so much, you don't shoot people and we as a civilized people do not condone this behaviour nor should we make excuses for it - do you even know if any of the victims were black or white?? This author should put his pen away and find another line of work.
Report This
By: prayaboutit on 8/06/2010 1:13PM
Nobody ever said that they were condoning him for his actions or making excuses...The point here is that both parties were WRONG! And it is very sad how we "humans(one species)" treat each other and as a result it affects some people more than others and tragic things such as this happen. Whether he reported it or not, neither victim(s) is/are alive to say what really happened. So I encourage everyone to take this as a lesson learn!!
Report This