At least seven dead including shooter in rampage at Molson Coors
Seven people were killed including a gunman during a shooting rampage on the Milwaukee campus of Molson Coors on Wednesday afternoon, according to multiple sources.
Employees were notified by email that an active shooter was in or near the second-floor stairwell of the sprawling factory’s Building 4. Police responded at 2:11 p.m.
As of 3 p.m. the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office reported it had not yet been called to the scene, 3939 W. Highland Blvd.
Milwaukee Fire Department commanders were reporting to dispatchers that multiple people were shot, according to emergency radio traffic provided by Broadcastify. Firefighters and police officers were responding to the scene clad in ballistic gear.
Authorities were asking people to stay away from the scene.The campus was on lockdown, according to Twitter users whose wives work inside. The women were told to stay inside their offices. One woman reported multiple ambulances on scene.
James Boyles spoke with the Journal Sentinel. He said his wife, Lasonya Ragdales, works at Molson Coors in the claims department. She has been told that there is an active shooter and she is locked in a room with co-workers. She was texting him from inside the building.
Paramedic units from Milwaukee and West Allis were dispatched to the scene along with officers from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, Marquette University Police Department and the U.S. Marshals.
Police blocked off the scene at North 35th and West State. Highway 175 was also closed at West State and Vliet.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett arrived around 3:30 p.m.
Nearby schools were locked down: Marquette High School, 3401 W. Wisconsin Ave., Woodlands School, 3121 W. State St. and Story Elementary School, 3815 W Kilbourn Ave.
At Story School a teacher was seen comforting a visibly shaken mother terrified that her childen were in danger. She rushed to the school after hearing the news.
At Woodlands School Andre Kimbrough said his son was still inside the building. Kimbrough said he, along with many other parents, went to pick up their children at the end of school around 3:15 p.m. but got a call from school officials about the lockdown. Many parents were circling the block waiting for an all-clear.
Kimbrough said he could see a "stream of police cars," ambulances and fire trucks. He felt good that the kids were safe inside.
"I'm more worried about how they feel," Kimbrough said. "They must be kind of freaking out."
About MillerCoors
Molson Coors Beverage Co., which operates MillerCoors, on Oct. 30 announced plans to close a Denver office and relocate hundreds of corporate support jobs to the Milwaukee office, 3939 W. Highland Blvd.
The brewer now has 610 jobs at the Milwaukee office. Corporate functions based there include human resources, financing and information technology.
Also, the main brewery on West State Street and a smaller, recently expanded brewery, at 1515 North 10th St., together have 750 jobs.
The restructuring announced last fall is designed to cut costs, with 400 to 500 jobs being eliminated throughout Molson Coors. The consolidation also will bring together employees in central locations so they can better work together.
Molson Coors has seen continuing sales declines as it faces steadily increasing competition from craft brewers, as well as other makers of alcoholic drinks. Its recent name change, from Molson Coors Brewing Co., reflects increased investment in cider, seltzer and other alcoholic drinks.
