Few things are as frightening in the work environment as an incident involving workplace violence. Incidents ranging from disgruntled employees to armed robberies to fatal incidents can have long-lasting impacts on employees, customers, and your organization’s reputation.
At Bryghtpath, we’re often asked to give examples of recent notable workplace violence incidents as a part of the process to justify a threat management program.
Here is a list of 20 notable workplace violence incidents from 2022 that our team curated while assembling information for our 2023 Notable Workplace Violence Incidents Report.
Walmart – Chesapeake, Virginia
A Walmart manager opened fire on fellow employees in the break room of a Virginia store, killing six people police and witnesses said. The gunman, who apparently shot himself, was dead when officers found him, police said. There was no clear motive for the shooting, which also left at least six people wounded, including one critically.
FedEx – Memphis, Tennessee
A former FedEx employee is facing attempted murder charges after police say he shot his coworker. Police said the shooting stemmed from an argument after the victim got upset that Morris touched his back. According to police reports, a witness heard Morris tell the victim to not follow him outside or he would shoot him.
Arby’s – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
An argument between two Arby’s employees at the Memorial Road and MacArthur Blvd store ended when one shot and killed the other. From interviews, police believe that when Brown and Rollerson were arguing, Rollerson “went out to his car, retrieved a handgun, and returned to the inside of the business where he shot and killed Mr. Brown.”
Deli – Bloomfield, Michigan
An employee of a Bloomfield Township deli reportedly fired shots into the business before taking his own life later the same day. A 52-year-old woman who works there was struck by gunfire and sustained a non-life-threatening injury. Investigators are still uncertain of a motive for the shooting.
Precision Drawn Metals – Janesville, Wisconsin
An employee who only had worked seven days at a Wisconsin business was arrested for shooting and killing his co-worker. Todd told authorities that he was bullied at the workplace, but police say that his accusation is not supported by any statements from employees or management.
Hyundai Dealer – Slidell, Louisiana
A man is in custody after police say he shot and killed his coworker at the Hyundai of Slidell car dealership. The shooting reportedly stemmed from an argument between Taylor and another employee of the dealership around 5 p.m. As the dispute escalated, detectives say Taylor pulled out a gun, shot his coworker, and fled on foot.
Dubow Textile – Saint Cloud, Minnesota
A St. Cloud man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a woman he worked with. Police responded to the shooting around 7 a.m. Monday outside Dubow Textile and found a woman who had been shot laying on the ground next to her vehicle. Officers attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful and she died at the scene. In speaking with several of Carpenter’s co-workers, officers learned Carpenter made numerous advances towards Hammond over the past month, according to court documents
Morgan Stanley – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
On Thursday afternoon, Oklahoma City police responded to a workplace shooting at an office building on Waterford Boulevard, near N.W. 63rd and Penn. There were several witnesses there that indicated that the suspect had walked in, fired several rounds at that victim, left in his own personal vehicle.
99 Ranch Market – Chino Hills, California
A grocery store employee in Chino Hills, California, is facing an attempted murder charge after an ongoing feud with a co-worker escalated to violence. Responding deputies were told that the suspect and the unidentified victim had a long-standing feud. The pair exchanged words before Uy allegedly armed himself with the meat cleaver. No other injuries were reported.
Ottawa Fire Service – Ottawa, Canada
Two Ottawa Fire Services members are facing charges for an alleged hate-motivated assault against one of their co-workers. The alleged assault happened in September while the three were on duty. Of the two suspects, one has been charged with hate-motivated assault and choking, aggravated assault, forcible confinement, and harassment. The other, meanwhile, has been charged with criminal negligence.
Winner’s Freight – Burr Ridge, Illinois
An employee at a trucking company who was about to be fired fatally shot his boss and injured another former coworker before taking his own life. He delivered one load, there was a disagreement over whether he wanted to do another one, so the company was going to fire him.
Wendy’s – Prescott Valley, Arizona
A Wendy’s employee in Arizona has been arrested and charged with murder after he allegedly sucker-punched a customer which resulted in his death days later, according to police. While taking the 67-year-old man’s order that police say an argument over the order escalated. A customer complained about his food order at which time, Wendy’s employee, Antoine Kendrick, came out from behind the service counter and struck the customer in the head. The customer fell to the floor striking his head and lost consciousness, ten days later, the customer succumbed to his injuries.
McDonald’s – Sundre, Alberta
A 27-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his co-worker at a McDonald’s in Alberta. 19-year-old Josh Burns was found dead shortly after midnight when officers responded to reports of a homicide at the local business. CTV News has learned both the victim and the accused were on shift at the time of the death, but no customers or witnesses were in the restaurant at the time. CTV News has learned both the victim and the accused were on shift at the time of the death, but no customers or witnesses were in the restaurant at the time.
General Mills Plant – Covington, Georgia
A General Mills employee was shot and killed by a co-worker Sunday at the cereal plant located at 15200 Industrial Park Blvd. Jalen Brown of Covington shot co-worker Zachery Foster, also of Covington, multiple times at about 11:40 a.m. and then ran from the plant where he allegedly fired at a passing motorist. There was no immediate reason given for the shooting.
Little Caesar’s Pizza – Cincinnati, Ohio
An employee recently fired from a Little Caesars Pizza tried to get her job back this week but ended up shooting and critically wounding the manager instead. Police records show that 27-year-old Angel Kidd returned to the pizza business Tuesday night after being fired and requested her job back. After Kidd was told she would not be rehired, she began fighting with the store manager in the parking lot. During the fight, Kidd pulled out a gun and shot the store manager in the leg.
Delaware County Highway Department – Muncie, Indiana
An employee of the Delaware County Highway Department has been accused of battering and threatening two co-workers. Wallace and another department employee were among workers assigned to a “brush crew” working along Delaware County Road 775-S west of Ind. 3. That man said he and Wallace earlier had a misunderstanding, but said he was surprised near the end of his work shift when Wallace “came at him and shoved him into the side of the wood chipper by his throat.” Wallace reportedly acknowledged he had “snapped” after exchanging angry words with the first co-worker.
ShopRite – Clark, New Jersey
A ShopRite employee was charged with stabbing a colleague multiple times during an attack at the Clark store where they worked. Officers rushed to the Central Avenue store for a report of an employee wounded at the deli department. Police said the accused assailant was immediately arrested and the attack could be the result of an altercation.
Mission Grill – Anderson, South Carolina
The Anderson Police Department said schools were placed on lockdown after a restaurant employee came to work with a gun and attacked his coworkers. Gary Lamar Brown “started threatening and scaring the other employees” after being told his hours were being cut at Mission Grill on East Greenville Street. Brown left the restaurant and returned about 20 minutes later with a firearm, according to officers. When Brown was told he was being terminated due to his prior behavior, he pulled out the gun and struck one of his coworkers in the back of the head with the pistol.
Hackensack University Medical Center – Hackensack, New Jersey
A travel nurse is accused of attacking an employee at Hackensack University Medical Center and setting her on fire. The nurse, who was not named, is accused of setting a full-time employee of Hackensack University Medical Center on fire in a staff break room. The nurse then left the hospital and fled by car. There were no witnesses to the attack, and the motivation is unclear.
Walgreens – Colorado Springs, Colorado
A teenager killed at a Colorado Springs Walgreens allegedly expressed concerns for a year about the man accused in her death. Riley Whitelaw told store managers in 2021 that coworker Joshua Johnson was making advances towards her and she was uncomfortable. Responding officers found a young woman on the floor with neck injuries and blood all over the room. Her ID badge and radio earpiece were lying near her feet. Johnson was arrested by state troopers the following day nearly 100 miles outside the city.
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Bryghtpath releases 2023 Notable Workplace Violence Incidents Report