1 shot at plant outside Atlanta, building evacuated

CONYERS, Ga. — Someone walked into a container plant outside Atlanta and shot one of its employees early Friday, the company said.

The shooting happened around 7 a.m. and the building was evacuated, a statement from Dart Container Corp. said. Law enforcement and medical personnel were on the scene.

AP

The condition of the person shot wasn’t immediately known.

On its Facebook page, the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office said it has identified “a person of interest” in the shooting, but did not provide any details. The sheriff’s office says “this is still a very active scene and we are still trying to gather more details.” The agency asked that people stay away from the plant.

Photos and video from news outlets show heavily armed law enforcement officers and flashing lights around a small industrial plant.

Nearby schools were put on lockdown as a precaution. Authorities also shut down a gas station next door and told an employee to stay inside, said Dion Spencer, who works there. He said police swarmed the area.

“All I know was there was a lot of them out here,” Spencer said.

About 300 people work at the plant, which makes plastic food and beverage containers, Dart Container spokeswoman Margo Burrage told The Associated Press.

The plant is along a busy suburban highway near Interstate 20 in Conyers, a suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) southeast of downtown Atlanta.