INDIANAPOLIS – A man shot and wounded four co-workers Thursday morning at a manufacturing business that employs disabled people through Easter Seals, telling police he shot them over respect, police said.
Two men and two women were taken to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, said Police Lt. Douglas Scheffel.
Jason Burnam, 24, was arrested inside the company cafeteria, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Spears. Burnam indicated to officers that the victims were targeted and when asked why he shot them, he said "it was over respect," Scheffel said. Police didn't elaborate.
Burnam had been having trouble with other workers in the days leading up to the shooting, Scheffel said. "Something was going on that was building up to this," he said.
The business, Crossroads Industrial Services, a division of an Easter Seals program, has about 100 employees who do light manufacturing, such as making identification tags for military vehicles as part of a contract with the U.S. Army, said Candy Morrison, director of marketing.
About 85 percent of workers have physical or developmental disabilities, she said. Police did not know if the suspect has a disability.
Managers closed down the plant until Monday.
"We certainly regret that the incident occurred, but we're grateful that no one was seriously injured," said CEO Jim Vento.
Jack Thompson, a 21-year employee, said he was coming out of the bathroom when he heard nine shots and saw a man with a gun walk down a hallway.
"I heard first screaming and then shooting and more shooting," he said.
Easter Seals is a non-profit group that assists more than 1 million people with physical and mental disabilities a year.
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