Douglas A. Scruton, a 56-year-old male, was nearing retirement after more than 30 years as a dedicated employee at Hartford Distributors Inc. in Manchester, Connecticut. He and his wife had recently moved to Middleton, New Hampshire, where they looked forward to enjoying the White Mountains. Scruton was known as a gentle soul, a friend to many, and an avid fan of the Red Sox, New England Patriots, and UConn sports.
On the morning of August 3, 2010, Scruton was among the 50 to 70 people
present during a shift change at the Hartford Distributors warehouse. That day, a driver for the company, Omar Thornton, was called in for a disciplinary hearing after being allegedly caught on camera stealing from the company. After agreeing to resign, Thornton unexpectedly pulled out a gun and began shooting.
The workplace turned into a scene of chaos and violence as Thornton moved through the facility, firing at his colleagues. In the end, eight people were killed, and two others were wounded. Douglas Scruton was one of the eight victims who tragically lost their lives in the rampage. Other victims included Francis Fazio Jr., Edwin Kennison, William Ackerman, Bryan Cirigliano, Craig Pepin, Louis Felder Jr., and Victor James.
After the shooting, Thornton called 911, claiming that he had been a victim of racial discrimination at the company, a claim the company denied. As police closed in on the building, Thornton took his own life. The incident was the deadliest workplace shooting in Connecticut's history, leaving the community in shock and mourning. In the aftermath, a memorial consisting of eight stainless steel pillars was erected on the grounds of Hartford Distributors to honor the lives of the eight individuals, including Douglas Scruton, who were senselessly murdered that day.
