For more on this story, go to CNN affiliates WTNH and WFSB.
Manchester, Connecticut (CNN) -- A shooting that erupted after an employee's disciplinary hearing left nine people -- including the employee -- dead Tuesday at a Manchester, Connecticut, business.
The shooter was identified as Omar Thornton, 34, said police Sgt. Sandy Ficara. He apparently shot himself in an office at the business -- a beverage distributorship -- after the shooting spree, police said.
Eight people were killed in various parts of the facility, Police Chief Marc Montminy said, and one shot may have been fired outside. Police who arrived on the scene had no contact with Thornton and did not fire any shots, the chief said. Two people were hospitalized.
Thornton came into Hartford Distributors around 7 a.m. to face disciplinary action from the company, Montminy said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "There were clearly some performance issues."
John Hollis, a spokesman for the union representing workers at the company, told CNN affiliate WTNH that Thornton, a driver hired about a year ago, had been accused of theft.
During the morning meeting, Thornton was told he could either resign or be terminated, Montminy said. The chief could not confirm details or the outcome of the conversation, but he said the employee apparently brandished a handgun as he was being led out of the facility.
Previously, Thornton told his girlfriend that he had reported to a company supervisor and a union representative that he was being racially harassed at the business but they did nothing about it, the mother of the girlfriend told CNN Tuesday.
Video: Workplace shooting in Connecticut
Joanne Hannah said Thornton showed her daughter, Kristie, a cell phone photo of racial epithets and a stick figure with a noose around its neck drawn on a restroom stall. He was in a stall once and heard a co-worker say "they wanted that n----- out of there," she said.
She said Thornton was one of two black employees. "This poor guy got pushed to the limit."
James Battaglio, a spokesman for the family that owns the distributorship, told CNN he had no information about the allegations of racial harassment. A union official said Thornton had not filed a complaint of racism with the union or any government agency, according to the Associated Press.
Kristie Hannah and Thornton spent Monday night in Enfield together, Joanne Hannah said CNN. "She said he acted his normal self."
Joanne Hannah said Thornton got a pistol permit about two years ago. She said she was unaware of the allegations of theft levied against Thorton, a truck driver, but she doubted he was guilty. "He was too honest."
Hannah and relatives of Thornton said the suspected gunman called his mother Tuesday morning and said he had shot five people.
Police would not release identities of the dead late Tuesday. Montminy said he did not know if any were specifically targeted.
Company receptionist Marissa Busiere told CNN affiliate WFSB she heard another co-worker screaming after shots rang out inside the business.
"'He's shooting! He's shooting! Call 911.' And everyone started running out of the building," Busiere said.
At the time, there were about 35 or 40 people in the office and warehouse, Brett Hollander, the director of marketing and a member of the family that owns the company, told the Hartford Courant.
Three people were rushed to Hartford Hospital, and one of them later died, a doctor told reporters. Police declined to say how many people were wounded.
"Everyone is devastated by this tragic and senseless act," Battaglio, the spokesman for the Hollander family, told the Courant. He said the family intends to focus its attention on the families of the victims.
"[The family is] mourning. They're meeting tomorrow morning (Wednesday) with employees, away from the site,"said Battaglio. "They want to meet in private, an opportunity for people to grieve and to come together and to address the remainder of their family members, meaning their employees.
Steve Hollander, a nephew of the owner, was injured, Battaglio said.
"This is a tight-knit organization. This is tragic, this is senseless. In addition, they lost people with whom they've been extremely close to over the decades," Battaglio said.
At least one nearby business was closed Tuesday afternoon.
"Pray for the families of the people at Hartford Distributors," a recorded phone message at Fluid Dynamics said.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell released a statement about the shootings.
"My heart and prayers go out to the employees and families of the victims. In the wake of this tragedy, we are all left asking the same questions: How could someone do this? Why did they do this? It was a senseless act of violence that has left us all shaken and reminds us just how precious and fragile life truly is."
CNN's Adam Reiss, Jason Hanna, Phil Gast and Joe Sterling contributed to this report
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/03/con ... tml?hpt=T2
