On a summer morning in Manchester, Connecticut, a tragedy unfolded that cut short the life of Francis J. Fazio Sr., a 57-year-old male resident of Bristol. On August 3, 2010, Fazio was at his longtime place of employment, Hartford Distributors, where he had worked for 28 years. What began as a typical workday ended in a violent rampage that claimed the lives of eight people, including Fazio.
The gunman, a disgruntled employee named Omar Thornton, opened fire on his colleagues after a disciplinary hearing where he was accused of stealing beer.
In the midst of the chaos, it was reported that Fazio warned others about the shooter, an act of selflessness in his final moments. Along with Fazio, seven other individuals lost their lives in the workplace shooting: Bryan Cirigliano, Craig Pepin, Douglas Scruton, Edwin Kennison Jr., Louis Felder, William Ackerman, and Victor James. Two other employees were wounded but survived the attack.
The assailant, 34-year-old Omar Thornton, had concealed a gun in his lunchbox. After carrying out the deadly assault, Thornton took his own life as police descended on the scene. Prior to his suicide, Thornton contacted 911 and claimed he had been subjected to a racist atmosphere at the company. Investigations into the shooting confirmed that Thornton was the sole perpetrator, and as he was deceased, no arrests were made in connection with the massacre. The incident left the community in mourning and prompted memorials to honor the lives lost, including the erection of eight stainless steel pillars at the site of the tragedy. Francis Fazio was remembered as a devoted husband and a wonderful father to his son and daughter.
