In the early morning hours of Friday, March 22, 2002, a tragic workplace shooting unfolded in South Bend, Indiana, claiming the life of 47-year-old John Contadeluci and three of his colleagues. The gunman, a fellow employee, initiated the attack at Bertrand Products, an aircraft parts manufacturer.
The perpetrator, identified as William Lockey, 54, fatally shot Contadeluci, Craig Schafer, 50, Dave Arpasi, 73, and Robert Downs Jr., 42. Two other employees were wounded during the rampage.
Co-workers suggested that Lockey's motive may have been fear of losing his job.
Following the shooting, Lockey fled the scene in a stolen company van, leading police on a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, he fired at officers, who returned fire in a running gun battle. The chase crossed the state line into Michigan, where Lockey shot himself as he approached a police roadblock near Niles. The van then veered off the road, struck some mailboxes, and came to a stop after hitting a tree. Lockey was found deceased inside the vehicle. Three police officers sustained injuries from flying debris and shotgun pellets during the chase.
