Paul Sallee, a 59-year-old White male, went to his job at the Standard Gravure printing plant in Louisville, Kentucky, on September 14, 1989, expecting a routine day. However, the ordinary workday turned into a scene of terror when his 47-year-old colleague, Joseph T. Wesbecker, entered the building shortly after 8:30 a.m. armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and other firearms.
Wesbecker, who had been on disability leave and was reportedly being treated for mental health issues, had a history of making threats against the company. On this day, his threats tragically materialized into a violent rampage.
Wesbecker moved methodically through the printing plant, targeting supervisors and coworkers. As he made his way to the pressroom, he encountered Paul Sallee. Without hesitation, Wesbecker shot and killed him. Sallee was one of eight employees murdered by Wesbecker during his half-hour assault on the workplace. The attack also left twelve other people injured. The scene was one of chaos and disbelief as employees scrambled for safety amidst the sound of gunfire.
The deadly spree concluded when Wesbecker turned a gun on himself, ending his own life in the pressroom. The investigation that followed confirmed that Wesbecker was the sole person responsible for the massacre. There were no other suspects, and no arrests were made as the perpetrator was deceased. In the aftermath, it was revealed that Wesbecker had begun taking the antidepressant Prozac a month prior to the shooting. This led to a high-profile lawsuit filed by survivors and victims' families against the drug's manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company, alleging the medication contributed to Wesbecker's violent actions.
