William Carl Ackerman, a 51-year-old Caucasian male, went to his job at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut, on the morning of August 3, 2010, a routine he had followed for nearly two decades. Tragically, it was a day that would end in unimaginable violence, shattering the lives of many families in the community. That morning, a recently terminated co-worker, Omar Sheriff Thornton, entered the warehouse armed and opened fire on his colleagues.
Ackerman, a former three-sport athlete from Enfield High School, was among the eight employees fatally shot in the rampage.
Known for his boisterous laugh and a "heart of gold," Ackerman was remembered by friends as a life-of-the-party figure who was deeply devoted to his loved ones. He was a loving partner to his girlfriend, Stephanie Laurin, and served as a father figure to her three children. Friends recalled his friendly and protective nature, suggesting he likely would have stood up to the gunman in an attempt to de-escalate the horrific situation. His life was characterized by his love for the Boston Red Sox, golfing, and hiking with his girlfriend.
The perpetrator of this senseless act of workplace violence, Omar Thornton, turned the gun on himself after carrying out the massacre, and therefore, no arrests were made in connection with the deaths of William Ackerman and the seven other victims. The community was left to mourn the sudden and brutal loss of individuals who were simply starting another day at work. The tragedy left an indelible mark, with friends and family left to remember a man described as a special, sensitive, and kind-hearted individual.
