- Five people were fatally shot at the Molson Coors Beverage Co. complex in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The shooter is also dead, according to the police.
- Mayor Tom Barrett confirmed the “horrific shooting” to reporters. President Donald Trump told journalists at the White House that the attacker killed five people and injured others.
- The site where the shooting took place has been dubbed “Miller Valley” because of the Miller Brewing Co. that is now part of Molson Coors.
- The massive complex features corporate offices, a 160-year-old brewery, a packaging center that pumps out thousands of cans and bottles by the minute, and a distribution center that spans the size of five football fields, the Associated Press reported.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Five people were killed in a shooting at the sprawling Molson Coors Beverage Co. complex in Milwaukee on Wednesday. The shooter is also dead, according to the police.
The police responded to the incident in the area of N. 40th St. and W. State St. shortly after 2 p.m. local time, the Milwaukee-based WTMJ-TV reported. Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said at a news conference that a 51-year-old Milwaukee man opened fire, killing five, and then turned the gun on himself.
Everyone who was killed, including the gunman, worked at Molson Coors.
President Donald Trump addressed the shooting during a White House news conference about the novel coronavirus.
"Our hearts break for them and their loved ones," Trump said. "We send our condolences. We'll be with them, and it's a terrible thing, a terrible thing."
Mayor Tom Barrett spoke with reporters at the scene and was the first to confirm that "a horrific shooting had occurred" and that several people had died.
"It is a horrible, horrible day for the employees here," the mayor said. "It's a very rough day for anyone who is close to this situation."
No 'active threat,' police say
The police tweeted at about 3:30 p.m. that they were responding to a "critical incident" at the site and asked people to steer clear of the "active scene" on W. State Street.
About two hours after that initial report, the police tweeted that there was no "active threat" but asked people to continue to stay away from the cordoned-off area.
MPD is investigating a critical incident in the 4000 block of W. State Street. Please stay clear of the area at this time.
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) February 26, 2020
Update regarding the critical incident that occurred on the 4100 block of West State Street. There is no active threat; however, this scene is still an active.
— Milwaukee Police (@MilwaukeePolice) February 26, 2020
Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley shared a statement on Twitter that said in part that he was "devastated" at the loss of "five members of our family."
"There are no words to express the deep sadness many of us are feeling right now," he added, later concluding, "Please hold your family members tight tonight and keep the families of our fallen teammates in your thoughts."
— Molson Coors Beverage Company (@MolsonCoors) February 27, 2020
Strong law-enforcement response to the Milwaukee fixture
Video from the scene showed fire trucks, police cruisers, and sheriff's vehicles rushing by, tactical units emerging from SWAT trucks, and federal agents heading into the campus.
WTMJ-TV also shared audio from two dispatch calls from about 2:10 p.m., informing police officers of an "active shooter" and "reports of one person shot at Miller Coors."
A Milwaukee resident named James Boyles told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his wife, Lasonya Ragdales, worked in the claims department at Molson Coors. She texted Boyles that there was a shooter on the premises so she was locked in a room with other colleagues.
The area has been dubbed "Miller Valley" because of Miller Brewing Co., which is now part of Molson Coors, the Associated Press reported. MillerCoors changed its name to Molson Coors Beverage Co. last year.
The vast Molson Coors complex includes corporate offices, a 160-year-old brewery, a packaging center that pumps out thousands of cans and bottles by the minute, and a distribution center that spans the size of five football fields.
The building is popular among visitors because tours take them to underground caves that were once used as storage areas for the beer. They also get to enjoy a saloon, a Champagne-room meeting hall, and an outdoor beer garden, the AP said.
Politicians respond to 'tragedy' and decry gun violence
Alderman Russell W. Stamper II sent a statement to Insider "offering sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of today's horrific mass workplace shooting at Molson Coors."
He went on to say: "The coming days and weeks ahead will be unimaginably challenging for them. The vile and heinous deadly violence that was perpetrated at the brewery complex today has no place in our society and makes no sense. The cold disregard for human lives and the lack of value for human life that was shown must be categorically denounced across Milwaukee, across Wisconsin and throughout our nation."
Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin tweeted, "Gun violence has taken too many lives in Milwaukee and the mass shooting today is heartbreaking."
Gun violence has taken too many lives in Milwaukee and the mass shooting today is heartbreaking.
I want to thank the first responders who ran into harm's way and saved lives. My office is standing by to help the #MKE community in the wake of this tragedy.
— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) February 26, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also called on Congress, saying politicians had "a duty" to "take real action."
We are closely following developments surrounding the shooting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones and the first responders protecting the community. Congress has a duty to them all to take real action to #EndGunViolence.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 26, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers said "yet another act of gun violence" would have "long-lasting consequences" for the community.
Our hearts go out to the families of those whose lives were senselessly taken, all of the folks and workers at Molson Coors, and the Milwaukee community as we grapple with yet another act of gun violence that will have long-lasting consequences for this community and our state.
— Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) February 27, 2020
The Milwaukee Police Department and Molson Coors did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.