On a grim Friday morning in South Bend, Indiana, the life of 50-year-old Craig Edward Schafer was cut short in a burst of workplace violence. On March 22, 2002, Schafer, a male employee at the aircraft parts plant Bertrand Products, was one of four people fatally shot by a disgruntled colleague. The incident sent shockwaves through the community, leaving a trail of death and questions in its wake.
The perpetrator was identified as William F.
Lockey, a 54-year-old co-worker from the shipping and receiving department. Witnesses reported that Lockey, who was armed with a rifle and a shotgun, had been involved in disputes with his colleagues and was reportedly fearful of losing his job. On that fateful morning, Lockey entered the facility and opened fire, specifically targeting certain individuals during a meeting. Along with Craig Schafer, David J. Arpasi Sr., 73, John Contadeluci, 47, and Robert C. Downs Jr., 42, also lost their lives in the rampage. The attack left an additional five people wounded, including three police officers who were injured during the subsequent chase.
Following the shooting, Lockey fled the scene in a stolen company van, leading police on a high-speed pursuit that crossed the state line into Michigan. The chase was described as a running gun battle, with Lockey firing at officers and construction workers along the route. As law enforcement closed in and approached a roadblock near Niles, Michigan, Lockey took his own life inside the moving van.
The investigation into the tragedy revealed a history of mental health issues concerning Lockey. Reports from years prior indicated that he had once planned a similar attack, which had been thwarted by law enforcement. In the end, the community was left to mourn the loss of four men, including Craig Schafer, whose lives were tragically taken in a senseless act of violence. There were no other suspects or arrests in connection with the shooting, as the sole perpetrator died by his own hand.
