TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — An employee at the Kia plant in Troup County is in police custody after police say he came to work and shot another employee just before 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Police said the victim was airlifted to a hospital in Columbus.
Employees said the shooter, identified as Gabriel Raines, 38, works in the assembly area at the plant, where the shooting took place. They said he walked in past security and fired multiple shots, hitting Gary Swanson in the leg. The bullet hit an artery and Swanson underwent surgery Tuesday night. Police say he is stable.
"We do feel though, however, that this is an isolated incident, it is between two employees and not a disgruntled employee at Kia," said West Point Police Chief Tony Bailey.
"It is kind of scary knowing something like that happened, but I work around (a) pretty good group of people," said employee Richard Hampson. "I know the guy that was doing the shooting. I talked to a guy who works close to me and he said the guy used to be on his line."
The plant was placed on lockdown immediately following the shooting. Hours later, officials announced that operations at the plant have been suspended for the evening.
"Details of the incident are currently under investigation. The safety and security of our team members is Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia's top priority, and we are cooperating with authorities," Kia said in a statement.
"As far as we know, there's no ulterior motive to do harm to anybody outside of what took place," Bailey said.
Raines is charged with aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
WSBTV
