Update: Statement from Lear Corporation below.
A 28-year-old employee at an automobile seat factory has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly shooting a co-worker on the assembly line.
On Sunday, August 4, 2019, Angela Nichole Mayo shot and killed 27-year-old Shanina Smith while both were working at the Lear Corp. factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The factory manufactures seats and electrical systems for Mercedes-Benz, which has a plant near Birmingham.
According to local authorities, the workers had a history of disagreements and Smith died at the scene and multiple employees witnessed the event.
Mayo left the plant after the incident, but later surrendered to police. Her bail was set at $150,000.
Workplace violence remains a major concern for employers and employees.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), 5,147 people suffered fatal workplace injuries in the United States in 2017. Of those, 458 were homicides, which was actually down from the 500 cases reported in 2016.
Of the people killed at work in 2017, 351 were the result of a shooting, 47 were stabbed.
Lear Corporation issued the following statement:
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., August 5, 2019 – We can confirm that one of our employees, Shanina Smith, was fatally shot at our Tuscaloosa plant on Sunday evening and that local authorities have a suspect in custody.
We have been in contact with Shanina’s family and our hearts and prayers are with them on this truly tragic day. Additionally, we have engaged professional grief counselors who are now onsite and will remain as long as it takes to provide services to any employees who are in need.
At this time, we have no further details regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are fully cooperating with authorities. We ask that any further questions be directed to local law enforcement conducting the investigation.
