# Mass shooting in Aurora, IL **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 15, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638 "2019-02-15T21:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PackerMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@PackerMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PackerMan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/1 "2019-02-15T21:25:52Z")
[https://www.google.com/amp/s/abc7chicago.com/amp/live-shooting-in-aurora-il-large-police-presence-reported-kane-county-sheriff-says/5140701/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/abc7chicago.com/amp/live-shooting-in-aurora-il-large-police-presence-reported-kane-county-sheriff-says/5140701/) Multiple casualties, including 4 police officers. No word if any fatalities. Shooter has been apprehended. Scary to see this in my hometown. Before we moved last year, this was 5 minutes from where we lived. My family is safe. Thankfully kids, my wife and I stayed home today. “Thoughts and prayers “ 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/2 "2019-02-15T21:28:40Z")
I used to live in Naperville. Scary stuff. I know we have a lot of Chicagoland people posting here. It must be pretty scary having this happen so close to home. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/3 "2019-02-15T22:14:46Z")
Suspect is in custody, so he must be white. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/4 "2019-02-15T22:20:02Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![PackerMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@PackerMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PackerMan)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/5 "2019-02-15T22:22:51Z")
Suspect had been neutralized. They won’t say if he is alive or dead. One fatality confirmed. Could be the shooter. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/6 "2019-02-15T22:24:50Z")
The local news (WGN) here in Chicago is repeating CNN information that 12 civilians and 4 police officers were shot (no solid information yet on any fatalities among them). They are also saying that the suspect is dead, though it’s not known if he was killed by police, or killed himself. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/7 "2019-02-15T22:48:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Suspect is in custody, so he must be white. Moderating: This is a breaking news thread. Leave comments like that out. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/8 "2019-02-15T22:53:31Z")
WGN is now reporting that press conferences from the authorities have been pushed back to 5:30pm CST. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/9 "2019-02-15T23:35:50Z")
> [@](#): > > An active shooter reported Friday afternoon at Henry Pratt Co. in Aurora is dead, law enforcement sources said… > > An employee named John Probst told ABC-7 he was in the building when the shooting took place. **He identified the gunman as a co-worker.** [https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-police-st-0217-story.html](https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/aurora-beacon-news/news/ct-abn-aurora-police-st-0217-story.html) Thus apparently workplace violence. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/10 "2019-02-15T23:41:27Z")
Press conference has begun. The Aurora police chief says that 5 civilians are deceased, and that the police shot and killed the shooter. She also says that a total of five police officers were shot (plus a sixth who suffered a knee injury during the event). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/11 "2019-02-15T23:57:30Z")
The shooter has been identified as a man named Gary Martin, age 45. His mother spoke to the Sun-Times, indicating that he had been laid off two weeks ago, and was “way too stressed out.” > **[6 dead in Aurora factory shooting; mom says gunman was laid off, 'stressed out'](https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/active-shooter-reported-at-west-suburban-aurora-factory/)** > > The man, police said, also shot five police officers in the shooting at Henry Pratt Co. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/12 "2019-02-16T00:10:34Z")
WLS is reporting that the shooter had apparently been scheduled to attend a “job action” meeting today (likely to be laid off or fired). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/13 "2019-02-16T15:21:44Z")
The more I read about the shooter, the more thankful I am that he is dead. [5 Facts About Gary Martin](https://heavy.com/news/2019/02/gary-martin/) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/14 "2019-02-16T16:14:19Z")
According to a news story, one of his prior offenses was “illegally altering car speakers”. What could that mean? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/15 "2019-02-16T16:21:40Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > According to a news story, one of his prior offenses was “illegally altering car speakers”. What could that mean? There are statutory limits to the amount of noise that can come from a vehicle. [https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/auto-accessory-laws.html#vehicle-noise-laws](https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/auto-accessory-laws.html#vehicle-noise-laws) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/16 "2019-02-16T16:30:57Z")
It has been reported he was about to be fired or let go. Frankly I’m surprised these types of shootings, specifically the disgruntled employee types don’t happen way more often. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/17 "2019-02-16T16:33:37Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The more I read about the shooter, the more thankful I am that he is dead. > [5 Facts About Gary Martin](https://heavy.com/news/2019/02/gary-martin/) Interesting list. How does this count as one thing? : > [@](#): > > Gary Martin Worked as a Valve Assembler at the Plant & Once Stabbed a Woman in Mississippi ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/18 "2019-02-16T17:31:02Z")
Initial reports are that he chose to gun it out with the police unlike many shooters who get to the point where they are backed up and take their own life. From a tactical perspective this situation is a nightmare. The police did what they were supposed to do, they didn’t wait they went in within minutes of the call. Two of the first four officers through the door were shot. Then several others were shot. Apparently the building is massive. I work where there are many warehouses like that. There are at least hundreds of places to hide. Places where the gunman would have a clear shot of you but you have no idea where he is. The only way to do it is to head towards the sound of the gunfire and hope for the best. When the gunman was eliminated you can’t assume he’s the only one, the entire building would have to be cleared and every nook and cranny checked. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/19 "2019-02-16T17:40:40Z")
Any word on the weapon he used? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638/20 "2019-02-16T17:56:17Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Any word on the weapon he used? > [@](#): > > Martin was not supposed to own a gun because of a 1995 aggravated assault conviction in Mississippi, she said. > > But he obtained one in Illinois in 2014. In January of that year, he applied for a firearms owner identification card, she said. In March 2014, he applied to buy a gun from a dealer in Aurora. After a waiting period and passing a background check that did not involve fingerprinting, he bought the gun, she said. > > Later that month, he applied for a concealed carry permit, and a fingerprint check led authorities to discover the Mississippi conviction, Ziman said. The permit was rejected, and Illinois State Police sent him a letter demanding he voluntarily surrender the weapon, but he did not, the chief said. Investigators are trying to determine why he didn’t surrender the weapon and **whether law enforcement followed up with him to confiscate the gun** … > > Martin opened fire with a Smith & Wesson handgun… > > He was “running down the aisle” with a pistol that had a green laser sight on it, John Probst said… [https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/us/illinois-aurora-shooting/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/16/us/illinois-aurora-shooting/index.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mass-shooting-in-aurora-il/829638.md?page=2)