Andrew Engeldinger

Mass Murderer

Andrew Engeldinger and the 2012 Accent Signage Systems Massacre

Background

Andrew John Engeldinger was a 36-year-old employee of Accent Signage Systems, a sign-manufacturing company located at 2322 Chestnut Avenue West in the Bryn Mawr neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. On September 27, 2012, Engeldinger carried out a workplace mass shooting immediately after company managers informed him that his employment was being terminated. Engeldinger had worked at Accent Signage for several years. Former coworkers described him as socially isolated and said he generally avoided eating lunch, taking breaks or socializing with other employees. Company officials had reportedly documented performance and attendance problems before deciding to dismiss him. Members of Engeldinger's family later said they believed he had experienced serious mental-health problems for years but had refused their attempts to obtain treatment for him. His parents reported that the family had become largely estranged from him. These statements provided context for his behavior but did not establish a single confirmed explanation for the violence.

The Termination Meeting

During the afternoon of Thursday, September 27, 2012, Engeldinger was called into the office of Accent Signage operations director John Souter. Before attending the meeting, Engeldinger went to his vehicle and retrieved a 9mm Glock 19 semiautomatic pistol. He carried the weapon into the building in a holster. At approximately 4:30 p.m., Souter informed Engeldinger that he was being fired. Witness accounts indicated that Engeldinger responded with words to the effect of, "Oh, really?" He then drew the handgun. Souter and company manager Rami Cooks attempted to stop him, resulting in a struggle inside the office. Engeldinger opened fire, critically wounding Souter and mortally wounding Cooks. He then left the office and moved through the company's executive, display, loading and production areas while continuing to shoot employees and other people he encountered.

The Shooting Through Accent Signage

Company founder Reuven Rahamim stepped from his nearby office as the gunfire began. Engeldinger shot and killed him before proceeding into a sign-display area, where employee Jacob Beneke was fatally shot. Engeldinger continued toward the loading-dock area. There he shot employee Ronald Edberg and UPS driver Keith Basinski. Basinski had arrived at Accent Signage while making a routine delivery and was seated in or near his delivery truck when Engeldinger attacked him. On the production floor, Engeldinger shot production manager Eric Rivers, inflicting critical injuries. Another employee, Battites Wesley, suffered a grazing gunshot wound but survived. Some workers escaped from the building, while others hid in offices, workspaces and other areas as the gunfire continued. The first emergency calls were received at approximately 4:35 p.m. Minneapolis police officers arrived within minutes and entered the building while attempting to locate the shooter and evacuate survivors. Officers found multiple victims throughout the facility. ...

Confirmed Victims: (6)

Keith Basinski 50 yr old Male

Minneapolis firm shooting - Wikipedia