Fired Trucker Fatally Shoots Boss, Self, At Distribution Center
Workers at a Pennsylvania distribution center are reeling this morning after a murder-suicide centering around a recently fired worker.
According to a report from the Eastern Adams Regional Police Department, the fatal shooting happened on Wednesday, August 21, at the the Plainville Farms distribution center in New Oxford, Pennsylvania.
Police say that around 5:20 a.m., 58 year old transportation manager John Frey arrived for work and parked in the employee lot at the distribution center. As Frey was exiting his vehicle, a Dodge Caravan also parked in the employee lot and 75 year old truck driver Phillip Michael Hughes got out and confronted Frey.
Hughes fired two shots at Frey at point-blank range before he turned the gun on himself.
The coroner pronounced both men dead around 6 a.m.
Police say that Hughes was “an independent trucking contractor working for Plainville Farms who was recently terminated the day before.”
The incident has been classified as a murder-suicide, according to police.
Plainville Farms is a poultry plant that employs about 600 workers. They issued the following statement about the incident:
The Plainville Farms family experienced a terrible, senseless tragedy at our Distribution Center in New Oxford early this morning. Plainville Farms is working closely with law enforcement in their investigation of this fatal incident that involved a manager at Plainville and an independent contractor.
Plainville Farms is a family and we are in mourning. Counseling will be provided to all of our employees to help with the healing process. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families that have been affected by this tragedy.