Texas Man, Fired From Knight Transportation, Kills Co-worker, Takes Own Life
A man who had been fired from a Houston-area trucking firm returned to the company and fatally shot a co-worker before taking his own life, the Harris County sheriff said.
Sheriff Ron Hickman told reporters at the scene of the shooting at Knight Transportation, that the co-worker who was killed appeared to be a supervisor. He did not release the names of those killed.
"The suspect is believed to have taken his own life after being terminated early this morning," the sheriff's office said on its Twitter feed. It added that the suspect, armed with a shotgun and a pistol, fired at multiple employees.
UPDATE: The sheriff's office believes the suspect was fired several weeks ago. He has been identified as Marion Guy Williams. Houston TV station Fox26 said the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Williams had a previous charge from 1996 for assault.
"Only the shotgun was used," Hickman said, adding that the shooting was "a retaliatory act."
Houston TV station KPRC said family members identified the victim as Mike Dawid, 35. A LinkedIn page identified Michael Dawid as a fuel manager/driver manager at Knight who had been with the company since 2007.
"He's in heaven. He's with God. He's in God's hand's now. He can watch over Noah, his son," said Tomas Paz, Dawid's brother in law, according to Houston TV station KTRK. The station said Dawid also left behind a wife.
One other person was injured in the incident after being hit in the face with what appeared to be a "projectile," possibly a shotgun shell, Hickman said.
Dozens of patrol cars, a SWAT team, and several ambulances were dispatched to the business located in Katy, about 30 miles west of Houston. A nearby school was temporarily locked down.
UPDATE: The Houston Business Journal reports Knight has released a statement. “It is with deep sadness that we confirm a shooting at our Katy, Texas, facility, and the death of a Knight Transportation employee," the company said. "Our deepest sympathies are with the family during this difficult time."
"Knight is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of all of its employees. Counselors will be on site to support our employees. We have suspended all work at our Katy facility pending completion of the investigation.”
Knight ranks No. 31 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.
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