Police: Springfield warehouse shooting victims were targeted

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Authorities say there is no doubt the 48-year-old man who fatally shot three co-workers at a central Illinois warehouse earlier this year before killing himself targeted his victims, Springfield's police chief said Friday.

Police Chief Kenny Winslow said Michael Collins possessed two firearms with extra ammunition and magazines but didn't use them.

Killed during the June 26 attack at the Bunn-O-Matic facility in Springfield were Christopher Aumiller, 25, and Bill Gibbons, 61, both of Springfield. Marsha Strumpher, 54, also of Springfield, died the next day.

'œHe possessed two firearms that day with extra ammunition and extra magazines, but did not utilize them,'ť Winslow said of Collins. 'œHe did not shoot people randomly. He walked past other employees to the workstations of Aumiller and Gibbons.

'œAs he was exiting, he walked in a normal pace as he left the building walking toward his vehicle, only to turn and come back toward Ms. Strumpher in the parking lot, shooting at her as she was speaking to somebody else who fled.'ť

Nearly 175 workers were in several buildings at the site where dispensed beverage equipment is manufactured at the time of the shootings, according to authorities.

Winslow said the department has theories as to why Collins took such actions, but he would be negligent to expose that information without concrete evidence.