SmileDirectClub warehouse employees shot by gunman; suspect killed by police
08/03/2021 9:42 am PDT
ANTIOCH, Tenn. (TCD) -- A SmileDirectClub employee opened fire at a company warehouse early Tuesday morning, where he shot three people and was then killed by police.
Metro Nashville Police Department tweeted they received a call at around 6 a.m. regarding an active shooter situation on Antioch Parkway.
Nashville Police initially said two employees were shot and hospitalized, then later updated the number to three.
Officers shot the suspected gunman on Antioch Parkway, and he was transported to a hospital.
According to the police department, the suspect died from his wounds at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Nashville Police identified the suspected shooter as a 22-year-old who worked at the SmileDirectClub warehouse since June; he previously worked there from late 2019 to early 2020, according to Metro Nashville police.
UPDATE: The active shooter is a 22-year-old employee who started working at Smile Direct Club in June. He also worked there from late 2019 to early 2020. He was shot by the MNPD at the intersection of Antioch Pk & Franklin Limestone Rd and has died at Vanderbilt...
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) August 3, 2021 @MNPDNashville
The three employees who were shot were all hospitalized, according to Nashville Police. At least one person was in critical condition. Police believe the suspected gunman acted alone.
Two of the victims were security guards, and the third was an employee of SmileDirectClub, WKRN reports.
According to The Tennessean, the gunman was identified as Antonio King. The Tennessean reports one employee was shot in the chest, one in the abdomen and leg, and another employee hurt their ankle while running.
3 employees were shot by the gunman inside Smile Direct Club. They are all hospitalized. At least one is in critical condition. It appears at present that the gunman acted alone.
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) August 3, 2021 @MNPDNashville
According to WKRN-TV, the gunman was reportedly holding a semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine when police told him to drop the weapon. He reportedly pointed his gun toward officers, who then shot him, WKRN reports.
SmileDirectClub tweeted: "SmileDirectClub is saddened at the shooting that took place at its manufacturing facilities this morning. The incident was contained quickly by security personnel on site."
The company wrote in a subsequent tweet: "The safety of our team members is a top priority for our Company and we maintain strict security protocols and a no weapons policy at all of our facilities. We are working with the local police as they investigate this matter."
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