Aurora warehouse gunman said he would kill workers, 'blow police up' if he lost job, report says

CHICAGO — Prosecutors say a man who fatally shot five co-workers at an Illinois warehouse apparently took the gun and ammunition into the plant when he arrived that morning.

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s office said in the report released Monday that it found law enforcement officers used justifiable force when they killed the gunman, Gary Martin, during a shootout at the Henry Pratt Co. building in Aurora on Feb. 15.

The report says Martin used profanity and opened fire after he was told he was being fired.

It says before the meeting, Martin walked “over to his workstation to retrieve something,” put on a hoodie and went into the bathroom.

Autopsy results show the 45-year-old Martin suffered six gunshot wounds, including one that was likely self-inflicted. He was shot four times in the chest and once in the middle of his forehead. Pathologists say a gunshot wound to his right jaw was likely self-inflicted.

The report says police found a handgun on the floor next to Martin and 10 bullets and a knife in his pants pockets. Illinois State Police found 64 fired cartridge casings at the scene. There was additional ammunition among Martin’s personal belongings.

The state’s attorney’s office report says Martin had told another employee that if he lost his job he would kill other workers and “blow police up.”

The employee said he didn’t report Martin’s comments to superiors because Martin routinely made “off the wall” statements and that he didn’t believe Martin would commit violence.

The employee knew Martin carried a gun in his vehicle but had never seen it inside the Aurora warehouse where they worked.

The report also details the shooting and explains that it followed a disciplinary hearing over Martin’s refusal to wear safety glasses.