Gunman kills 3 at NC lumber company

Montgomery County, North Carolina Sheriff Dempsey Owens describes the chain of events after a shooter opened fire at a lumber company, killing three, and later shot himself at home.

By NBC News, msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated 3 p.m. ET: Montgomery County Sheriff Dempsey has confirmed the identity of the alleged shooter as Ronald Dean Davis, age 50.??He was found on a couch at his home with single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Both Davis and the injured survivor of the workplace shooting are in critical condition at a hospital, the sheriff said at a news conference.

"This is a dark day for Montgomery, North Carolina," Dempsey said.

A deputy found a six-page handwritten note apparently written by Davis. The note "just rambles on," and investigators aren't sure of a motive, Dempsey said.

The sheriff said Davis and all four victims worked at McBride Lumber.

"I'm under the impression that he knew who he was going to shoot," the sheriff said, adding, "it appears he entered with a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and shot these four."

Davis was not married and didn't have any children, Dempsey said.

Original story:?STAR, N.C. -- A man described by witnesses as a disgruntled worker opened fire Friday at a lumber company in this central North Carolina town, killing three people and injuring one before shooting himself,?authorities said.

Montgomery County Sheriff Dempsey Owens told WXII 12 that deputies were called to the?McBride Lumber Company just after 6 a.m. He said deputies found four people shot inside the business, three of whom died. One worker was airlifted to a hospital.

The suspect fled the scene. He was identified by co-workers at the firm, allowing deputies to track him to his house, WFMY-TV reported.?

Owens told WXII that the suspect shot himself at his house. He was airlifted to a hospital.

WRAL.com identified the suspect as Ronald Dean Davis, 50, and said he was in critical condition.

Witnesses reported that Davis was a disgruntled employee, the sheriff told WXII.

Owens said the the shooter left a note, but did not give the details of its contents, according to WFMY.

The company's founder's, Dorothy McBride, said she was shocked.

"Oh, my God, I can't believe it," McBride said. "I just can't talk about it right now. I have to find out more."

McBride Lumber Company is a second-generation family-owned business that was started?in the 1950s, according to its website. The company specializes in the manufacture of custom pallets for a variety of businesses, including furniture, automotive, masonry and textile.

NBC News, NBC affiliate WXII 12, msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/13/10148740-gunman-kills-3-at-nc-lumber-company

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