James A. Zotter, a 44-year-old male of unspecified ethnicity, tragically lost his life on September 22, 2016, in Athens, Tennessee. Zotter was a supervisor at the Thomas & Betts steel fabrication factory. The incident occurred when Ricky Swafford, a 45-year-old longtime employee at the plant, became upset during a meeting with Zotter and another supervisor, Sandra H. Cooley, 68.
Swafford left the meeting, returned with a semi-automatic handgun, and fatally shot both Zotter and Cooley before taking his own life.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Athens Police Department and McMinn County Sheriff's Office, responded to the scene. The investigation revealed that Swafford's actions were the result of a workplace dispute, and no other employees were harmed during the incident. The company, ABB, which owns Thomas & Betts, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and offered grief counseling to employees.
No arrests or suspects were identified in relation to Zotter's death, as the shooter died by suicide at the scene. The case was treated as an active shooter situation, and the investigation was conducted by the TBI and local authorities. The incident remains a somber reminder of the potential for workplace violence and the importance of addressing employee grievances effectively.
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