Omar Thornton, pictured here, worked for a beer and wine distributor in Manchester, CT. Thornton opened fire on his boss and co-workers yesterday; after a meeting where he was confronted for stealing beer.
Thornton, 34, worked for several years at the company as a driver, and at a 7 a.m. meeting, he was shown videotapes of him stealing and offered the choice to quit or be fired.
Steve Hollander, whose family owns the business, said Thornton didn’t contest the accusation or get angry, but calmly chose to quit.
Several minutes later, Thornton got up and just started firing a handgun. He ran along a loading platform shooting some and sparing others.
Thornton, in the 10-minute phone call with his mother, Lily, admitted he had just killed a bunch of people and was about to turn the gun on himself.
He said he was sorry and wanted to say goodbye. She pleaded with him to change his mind, to no avail.
“The last words he told his mother was that he loved her and that they just pushed him over the edge,” said Thornton’s cousin Annette Levine. “Omar has never been in trouble before. He has no criminal record.”
Conversations Of A Sistah 
How did I know he was black. How did I know he was prbly caught stealing beer. damn!!!!
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Very tragic!!!
Good morning My Ceo-Fam. Good morning Tracy!
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Damn!!! Dude went ballistic.
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I am Black guy, and I got laid off from a position back in 2007. It was for a racist reason, but I just moved on. There wasn’t a need to go shoot up the place. The problem with being a Black man is that the Black community puts too much stress and stipulations on Black men being employed and keeping a job. When a Black man loses his job over BS (racism), then that makes it worst
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When discrimination grievances are not properly dealt with…This is what happens. The man claimed they were racist.
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Thornton had complained for a long time about being racially harassed at work.
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Thornton had complained for a long time about being racially harassed at work.
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See I don’t think he was racially harrassed. One of the workers there had no complaints from him. So only family and friends know if he talked about racisim.
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Good morning CEO-Bloggers, Good Morning Tra., So let’s see.
It’s okay to gun down 5 supposed racists, and 3 other random bystanders in addition. All because of supposed racial harassment at work? The guy never filed a formal complaint with his union, and yet we’re supposed to believe the stories of those who knew him that he was driven to the brink?
C’mon I don’t believe that.
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“Omar has never been in trouble before. He has no criminal record.”
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Wow! Now he’s died a killer and a criminal. This is so sad.
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It’s hard out here for a black man and sorry people but society does discriminate against them. and yes they do make it hard for the black man to survive. Not saying I condone what this guy did but we don’t know if there’s truth to the discrimination or not. I just pray for his souls and the soul of those he killed.
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Did I say Good morning to erbody?
If not Good morning all.
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I’m sure others has stolen beer from the company too. He could have been given a warning or suspension. Or made to pay for him, not just outwardly fir him.
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This is a wake up call for people who have been engaging in racist harassment with impunity. The man went postal but people want to say it is all about a few stolen beers. Yeah ok.
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Times are tight and now is not the time to be firing people. I’m just glad it wasn’t worst cause it coulda been.
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Times are tight and now is not the time to be firing people. I’m just glad it wasn’t worst cause it coulda been.
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Now is NOT the time to be stealing either.
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“sad” what Omar Thornton did. Just sad. A black killing a bunch of white people, you know some are going to take this as racist and too a whole nother level.
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Oh Good morning all.
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God is great… Beer is good… And people are crazy.
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Not excusing what the killer did, which was obviously wrong. But if the guy was stealing, why have a meeting and offer him the choice of resigning or being fired. Fire him and take the appropriate security measures to protect the other employees.
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If they did harrass him they were wrong, still don’t think he should have been fired just warned and or suspended.
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This man was obviously dealing with mental issues long before he felt racially slighted. He was wrong for stealing and wrong for taking someone’s life. His life was not in immediate danger, just his pride for being asked to leave the company.
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This was just the straw that broke the camels back! But I don’t think this company is all that innocent. My sister was recently let go from a job in Queens and they are notoriously racists and sexist and always saying stupid comments againsts, Jews, black and latinos. Sometimes employers really need to watch their mouths and start penalizing employees who make racists comments.
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This dude probably did endure some form of racism, I don’t think the family members would lie about something like that.
Secondly, he probably did swipe some beer, as I am sure all the workers did. I’m sure they were all selling it on the side just like Thornton.
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The dude snapped, he called his mother for heaven’s sake. This is not the common black crime, this is more POSTAL….Everyone has their limits and deals with it differently…
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I’m tellin ya’ll., a race war is coming.
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People are going crazy period! You have people in NY having a fucking fit about a prayer room being built 2 blocks from ground zero. You have the mess in the gulf and now this fool who killed all these people and then himself. so sad.
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America has its own little form of Terrorism.
Workplace violence, going Postal, Tower Snipers, Hate Crimes. My prayers to the family.
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Big black man opens fire on a bunch of people. wow! how fucked up. Let’s see who’ll agree with me on that?
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Big black man opens fire on a bunch of people. wow! how fucked up. Let’s see who’ll agree with me on that?
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This blog is not racially divided but U are trying to make it that. Go away with ya bullshit comments it won’t be entertained today, not here.
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Angel-hair, need to “stfu” and stop makin this about race. This is an unfurtunate tragedy, omar should of just blew his own brains out, instead of taking it out on his co-workers that were just trying to make a living. Again its just sad.
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Angel-hair, need to “stfu” and stop makin this about race. This is an unfurtunate tragedy, omar should of just blew his own brains out, instead of taking it out on his co-workers that were just trying to make a living. Again its just sad.
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I CO-SIGN!
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Personally I’m tired of Angel-hair. And I’m going to ask the administrators of this blog to BLOCK any additional comments from this bitch because this subject is sensative and this TRICK is not about to bring her BS here!! Not today.
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None of you can sensor me. This blog gives me the freedom of speech. You don’t like it too bad.
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@Angel-hair, There’s where you’re WRONG! You can and will be sensored if other bloggers here find your comments offensive. I’m reading each and every one and I ASK that you REFRAIN going forward.
I thank you in advance for THINKING before you write. If not, your comments on this post will be removed.
Who am I? Mrs. C. Avetis, this blog’s administrator for Tracy Bell.
Thank you!!!
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DAMN!!! That’s right Ms. Avetis shut dat bitch down!!!
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HA!!!!! 🙂
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Good morning My CEO-Peeps: I’m just stunned by this.
Stunned.
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Blog Administrator, comes in and set the shit straight up in the Ceo’s house. Priceless!
*SIPS TEA* daring the bitch (Angel-hair) to come back and jump bad!
*SIPS TEA AND EATS TOAST*
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@AnnMarie, Stunned I agree. Most workplace shootings are done by white men. People need to take personal responsibility for their actions. He was a discipline problem. He steals, the company is about to let him go and he shoots innocent people. Senseless. I send my deepest condolences to the families of each victim. senseless! just senseless!
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Condolences to the family’s. Sad.
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It’s only 9:30 AM… WTF?
How did shit jump off so early in the morning already. I ain’t even had my third cup of coffee yet.
What happened?
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Hey Daisy, Felicia and Flo. *Waves hand* 🙂 Good morning Fam.
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Condolences to the family’s.
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“Earlier reports were that Omar Thornton shot himself; he did not. It was called a “cop shooting” because Omar Thornton did not put his gun down, so police opened fire. According to Fox CT News video on the Hartford Courant page, and via the mother of a woman, Kristi Hannah, who dated him for eight months, the shooter, 34-year old Omar Thornton, who’s African American, complained of racism to his employers, but they did nothing. Here’s the exact quote from the Hartford Courant regarding Omar Thornton’s possible motive for the shooting at Hartford Distributors: Joanne Hannah, who lives in the Enfield neighborhood where Thornton lived until about a month ago, said her daughter Kristi had dated Thornton for eight years. Thornton, who is black, had complained about being racially harassed at work. Thornton brought his complaints to his superiors, who did nothing about it, she said her daughter told her.”
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“Earlier reports were that Omar Thornton shot himself; he did not. It was called a “cop shooting” because Omar Thornton did not put his gun down, so police opened fire. According to Fox CT News video on the Hartford Courant page, and via the mother of a woman, Kristi Hannah, who dated him for eight months, the shooter, 34-year old Omar Thornton, who’s African American, complained of racism to his employers, but they did nothing. Here’s the exact quote from the Hartford Courant regarding Omar Thornton’s possible motive for the shooting at Hartford Distributors: Joanne Hannah, who lives in the Enfield neighborhood where Thornton lived until about a month ago, said her daughter Kristi had dated Thornton for eight years. Thornton, who is black, had complained about being racially harassed at work. Thornton brought his complaints to his superiors, who did nothing about it, she said her daughter told her.”
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OK And so? Now her BF is dead!
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So Arlene, If someone white says something racially offensive to a black man, then it’s OK for him to kill 8 people & shoot more?
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We don’t know HOW this guy was racially harassed. That has not come out yet. and did he have any thing or particular incident written down about being racially harassed. when things like this are going on in the work place, we gotta be proactive with our proof in order to handle it accordingly. Right Tra?
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My condolences to all the familes who had people killed and wounded.
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Some of us need to accept the fact that crazy comes in all colors.
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Some of us need to accept the fact that crazy comes in all colors.
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I CO-SIGN THAT!
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wow! my heart goes out to the victims of this senseless crime
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Good morning: First I want to say I hope all the deceased were SAVED. Secondly I want to say that I will pray for the families of the victims, and the dead alleged gunman.
#Thatisall
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It is obvious Omar was a blasphemer of the Holy Spirit long before he pulled the trigger. Lots of folks think that people commit blasphemy ( Mark 3:28-29 ) of the Holy Spirit when they commit suicide..I don’t think so.. I think when you curse God in your heart,” it is a wrap” and your soul is dead at that point. The act of suicide is just a physical manifestation of the internal deadness to God
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Ah hell ya’ll…here come Ann, the holy spirits and jesus. i’m going to get some more coffee so i can take her ass and her comments this early in the morning.
Whats up Daisy, Tamela, Felicia, Flo and Brown.
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This may have been a breaking point for him a lot of people can’t handle stress.
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Thornton was fired after being caught on camera stealing from the company and then shot the two employees who fired him” This is such a lie!!!
I can say this because a very close family member works at this place!! (She’s ok, thank GOD) They are trying to cover up the fact that he went to them numerous times to put in complaints about racist things that were going on in this work place…People should stop believeing everything they read…
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You can call this a gun issue, an employee issue, a racial issue or even a mental issue- but let’s wait until all the information comes out. Cause I’m sure more shit will be exposed.
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I’m willing to bet these mtherfers were racist. and ya’ll know damn well more than this dead nicca right here was stealin/taking beer. he learned how to do it from some white man he worked with and ya’ll know it.
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This is Obama’s fault, with high unemployment and the economy in the hole this stuff turns Americans against each other.
Prayers go out to the family and friends and I think the President should call the families and apologize that his policies got their loved ones killed.
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This is Obama’s fault, with high unemployment and the economy in the hole this stuff turns Americans against each other.
Prayers go out to the family and friends and I think the President should call the families and apologize that his policies got their loved ones killed.
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LMAO!!!! GTFOH!!! Everything is Obama’s fault. STFU!
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This is Obama’s fault, with high unemployment and the economy in the hole this stuff turns Americans against each other.
Prayers go out to the family and friends and I think the President should call the families and apologize that his policies got their loved ones killed.
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Take that shit somewhere else. OK.
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Attention CEO-Bloggers. To the 15,000,000 Americans who are out of work, 9 jobs just opened up in Connecticut! Hurry because the 12,000,000 illegal alien invaders are likely heading to Conn as we speak!
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Mr Thorton’s family apologized to the other families who lost their relatives. They also said it was RACISM that caused him to SNAP, he had documented the racist events.
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What a horror story this is and by brotha at that.
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A real tragedy, May all R.I.P.
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This is so sad!!! May the lord have mercy.
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Everybody has a breaking point. What he did was fucked UP and I’m not CONDONING IT, but i COMPLETELY understand. They lucky it doesn’t happen more often. REAL TALK!!!!
Trace I’m in pain.
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So he was stealing, but him being reprimanded for it was racism? I’m confused.
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So he was stealing, but him being reprimanded for it was racism? I’m confused.
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Let me UN-Confuse you. NO. He had complained constantly of racism. He was or had experienced racism on the job. him being fired was the breaking point for him. Now do you get it. Still no excuse to kill 8 of your co-workers but hey.
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Sally, Until you WALK in the shoes of a brotha, a DARK SKINNED BROTHA AT THAT, you will NEVER know what it’s like 2bme.
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Right away,Omar Thornton,s family and friends raise the racial bias and discrimination excuse at the workplace. BULLSH*T!!! Omar had a few screws loose upstairs and was caught stealing. He was being fired because he was a thief, NOT because of his color!!! Omar knew what was going to happen today at Hartford Distributors because he brought a firearm to work intending to kill people. STOP using the racial excuse people, it DOESN’T work anymore!! How many white people were fired for doing the same at Hartford Distributors? THEY didn’t run around shooting people!!
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He was being fired for stealing beer what does race have to do with it?
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IF he indeed was the target of racism, so what? That doesn’t make the killings of innocent co-workers justifiable. It would justify a grievance or a harassment complaint but killing? Nah.
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Good morning People: Let us pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
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KeeWee, you forgot: “For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory” Amen.
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There was nothing wrong with this man except he was being oppressed and wasn’t going to take it anymore.
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Naw.. I ain’t believing a d@mn thang white people say until I see video that he was actually stealing…
And yall expect me to believe that this man was stealing beer.. GTFOH !
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OMG!!!! what’s the world coming to?
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OMG!!!! what’s the world coming to?
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It’s not the world baby, it’s the people in it.
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I’m sure they all became “racists” once he got caught stealing.
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I wonder where Sharpton and Jackson stand on this issue…..
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I wonder where Sharpton and Jackson stand on this issue…..
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Adam, you mention Al Sharpton & Jesse Jackson like they tag team each other concerning bullshit. this tragedy is a private matter not an injustice to a race a people. I’m sure both men know there place and you really need to STOP throwin they asses in the mix of this. This is not a race issue or a black & white issue. a black man with a problem killed his co-workers. The full extent of matters we don’t know as of yet. Until then reserve judgement please!
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Can we get a new post please!
and…thank you.
where are you ms. bell.
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Everybody don’t turn the other cheek when it comes to games and being disrespected in the work place. Not to condone his behavior but this goes to show you what can happen when you go racial with the wrong one.
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Guns and a crumbling society don’t mix. Period.
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WORKPLACE HARASSMENT/RACISM…..JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE FOR AMERICANS TO SWALLOW………ITS A BIG BITTER PILL BUT REALISTIC!!
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He was mad because he got caught with his hand in the cookie-jar… take it from there. I have no doubt there was racial taunting. Stealing is an instant discharge and very hard to defend. Why he needed two jobs (Holliday described his nephew as quiet and hardworking, saying he had two jobs.) makes me wonder if he was full-time. My condolences to all the friends and family members.
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This guy probably thought about killing his coworkers for a while and was only looking for an excuse. Many people are stressed out and it doesn’t take much to push them over the edge.
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We don’t know that he was racially harassed, we know his mother said he said he was racially harassed. “What would be the point of making it up”? Who knows what the points in his mind were. Who knows if the offenses were real or perceived. We may find out that he documented the claims with human resources, or we may find out that he was mentally ill. Who knows, but assume nothing until you know for sure.
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There are no excuses for Mr. Thornton’s behavior, none. But the workplace could be both ethnically diverse and tolerant of harrassment.
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His family should simply reply “no comment” to all questions from the media. They are not helping themselves when they attempt to justify his actions.
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There are no valid reasons for killing your co-workers. If you’re being racially harrassed at work follow appropriate and legal procedures. The end.
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Who takes a gun to work in their lunchbox?
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Who takes a gun to work in their lunchbox?
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Apparently someone that wants to kill people.
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Sad story all around. Too bad race has to be injected into everything nowadays.
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Hey Romello. How’s wifey. I can say that now. 🙂
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There is absolutely no justification for taking human life. These people were mothers and fathers of children. Grandparents. They did nothing to this man. Again…NOTHING justifies the taking of innocent lives.
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May God rest their souls in peace,
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only wall street suits and lawyers are allowed to steal big time. Not the little peons.
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Can you trust someone who steals from you? No, the guy deserved to be fired.
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Of course not. That’s why most employers are not to be trusted. hell they stealing. They beg, rob and steal just to get ahead.
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Look ya’ll, times are TIGHtT!!! We in a bad economy. We lost over 13 million jobs while bush was president, they scared the hell out of people with terrorism. He was caught stealing and being fired.
All those things come together at one time and add to it if he really felt that the others were against him because he was black.
IT is not right but sounds like he just snapped.
It’s a terrible thing to happen but when things get bad, bad things happen.
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Perhaps he should not have stolen from his employer – I’m sure that had something to do with his dismissal.
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@Angel-hair, Do you know for a fact that he stole from his employer? I mean do you?
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The mere fact that he had a gun, one which he purchased 2 years prior, in his lunch box indicates to me that he had planned to kill these people long before he was accused of stealing. One has to wonder what was his beef with theses people to have him plan such an act for so long.
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I’m tired of the race being pulled. This is not about race. i’m also tired of the half ass truth. Know what you’re talking about.
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If Omar Thornton thought he had justifications for his actions, he wouldn’t have killed himself.
This was premeditated, selfish and sick.
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God bless the families of the victims, and the shooter’s girlfriend and daughter who will also grieve with them.
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Harrassment had to make him snap because he went to work with a gun before they told him about the video tape.
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How do ya’ll know that he didn’t tell anyone about the harrassment? Its tragic that those people had to lose their lives.
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Times are hard, people are mad, and “God” is on the decrease in america. so get used to that people.
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He probably snapped because others were taking beer too. And nothing was being done about it. It’s a beer plant, it seems naive to think he was the only one stealing beer. Ever know anyone who worked in a beer plant or drove a beer truck? He wasn’t the only one, but he was the one they chose to fire and he snapped.
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That boy going to hell. sorry but he is.
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He is going to hell I agree, but where is the tape?
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Where’s the evidence of racism? That road goes both ways.
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