Kerry Joe Tesney of Trussville, Ala., received notice in the mail on Monday, Sept. 22, that he had been fired from his job at a UPS shipping center in Inglenook, Ala. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, just after 9 a.m., he showed up at the facility with a gun, murdered two managers, and killed himself.
His pastor, Bill Wilks of NorthPark Baptist Church, told the Associated Press that Tesney had been “troubled” about work and his family’s financial situation.
Tesney allegedly walked into the facility through a truck door and was wearing his UPS uniform. He waited to open fire until he reached the management offices, and police believe he was targeting the people he felt were responsible for his termination.
UPS released a statement that says in part, “We are deeply saddened by this event, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives today.”
Police received a call about an active shooter in the building, but by the time Birmingham police officers entered the building, Tesney was dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“It will be a very methodical investigation, even though we have a pretty good idea about what transpired inside the business,” Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper told reporters at a press conference.
“The safety of our employees is our primary focus, and UPS is cooperating fully with law enforcement,” the company said in the statement. “We recognize that this process is painful for family and friends, so we ask for your patience and understanding as we work with the authorities. Our focus now is on assisting the families of the victims, as well as the employees who work in this facility. We have reached out to the families and are providing counseling and support to employees during this difficult time.”