(CNN) — Multiple people were killed Thursday in a series of shootings that ended at Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas, Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton told reporters.
The suspected shooter, an employee at Excel, was killed by authorities.
“There could be as many as three or four others (dead), and possibly up to 20 people that have been injured,” Walton said.
The sheriff told reporters that authorities first received a report of a man having been shot while driving. Second, a person was reported shot in the leg. Third, a report came in about a shooting in the parking lot of Excel. Finally, an active shooter was reported inside the workplace, Walton said.
Matt Gerald told The Hesston Record newspaper that he was outside on break when he saw the shooter get out of his truck with a gun.
“I saw the shooter get out of his truck, shoot someone down and go into the building,” Gerald reportedly said. “I was flabbergasted. I was at a loss for words.”
The shooter was not identified.
Gov. Sam Brownback offered his condolences to the people of Hesston, which is 35 miles north of Wichita.
“This will take some time to work through,” Walton said, citing the large number of crime scenes and people involved.
Excel Industries is a maker of lawn care products.
“This is just a horrible incident that’s happened here,” the sheriff said. “It’s going to be a lot of sad people before this is all over.”
