Police in Albertville, Alabama say an employee at a water distribution plant opened fire on co-workers early Tuesday, killing two and injuring two before taking his own life. The shooting occurred at the Mueller Co. plant, which employs more than 400 people and makes water distribution and measurement products, giving the city of Albertville its nickname, “Fire Hydrant Capital of the World.”
Michael Lee Dobbins and David Lee Horton of Boaz, Alabama died in the shooting around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. The shooter was later identified as Andreas Deon Horton, 34, of Dekalb County. Police have not determined a motive, and confirmed there was no known familial relation between the Hortons and that they had “no ties” other than working at the same place. The two wounded employees were taken to a hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The shooter used a handgun to fire an unknown number of rounds at his co-workers before fleeing, and was later found dead in the vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in Guntersville, about 15 miles away from the factory. Multiple weapons were recovered from the vehicle.