5 killed in mass shooting at Orlando-area business

Orange County sheriff says gunman dead

WINTER PARK, Fla. – A gunman fatally shot five of his former coworkers then killed himself during a mass shooting at Fiamma, an Orange County business, Monday morning, according to sheriff's officials.

Seven people who work at Fiamma, the RV accessory business where the shooting took place, survived the incident without any injuries. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the shootings happened at multiple locations in the Fiamma building and 12 people were at the business during the incident.

Officials identified the shooter as John Robert Neumann Jr., 45, a former employee and U.S. Army veteran who was fired in April. The ex-worker came into the building armed with a semi-automatic gun and multiple hunting knives and fatally shot four men and a woman then turned the gun on himself, Demings said. There is no indication that the knives were used.

"All indications from eye witness testimony is that it appears that just before deputies entered to the scene itself, as an active shooter scene, that the subject likely killed himself or shot himself at that point," Demings said.

The five victims have been identified as Robert Snyder, 69, Brenda Motanez-Crespo, 44, Kevin Clark, 53, Jeffrey Roberts, 57 and Kevin Lawson, 46.

"In terms of his total motive for shooting the specific individuals involved, we have information that at least one of them he had a negative relationship with, but he was certainly singling out the individuals that he shot," Demings said.

Demings said Neumann pointed his gun at a temp employee and told her to "get out of the business."

Neumann was also involved in a workplace incident in June 2014 in which he was accused of battering one of his coworkers. Demings said no charges were filed in that case and there is no evidence that that victim was among those killed in Monday's shooting.

"Going back to 2014, he had been listed as a suspect in a battery against another employee. Once deputies got here and interviewed both parties, there was no arrest made at that time," Demings said. 

Demings described Neumann as a disgruntled employee, adding that the "tragic incident" is an example of workplace violence and there's no indication of any ties to terrorism. He said authorities believe Neumann was a "lone gunman."

"At this time, we have no indication that this subject is a member of any subversive type of any organization. We have no indication that this subject is a participant of any type of terrorist organization," Demings said.

Neumann has a minor criminal history that includes marijuana possession, DUI and a misdemeanor battery charge, Demings said.

He lives alone in the Central Florida and has no family in the area.

"In situations like this, my experience tells me that this individual made a deliberate thought to do what he did today. He had a plan of action and he executed his plan today," Demings said.

Neighbors identified the shooter from a Facebook profile picture.

One neighbor, who would only give her first name, said she was shocked to hear that Neumann was the shooter. She said she knew he was recently fired, but he refused to tell her why.

"He seemed to be angry. He seemed like he complained a lot. He seemed like he had something wrong 'up here' that was that was bothering him," Elizabeth said.

First responders arrived within minutes

The shooting was reported at 8:03 a.m. at an industrial area on North Forsyth Road near Hanging Moss Road, northwest of Colonial Drive and State Road 417 in Orlando. Forsyth Road is closed from University Boulevard and State Road 50.

First responders were dispatched to the active shooting situation at 8:05 a.m. and arrived two minutes later.

"I can tell you it was a coordinated effort along with the sheriff's office. As soon as the scene was cleared less than three minutes later the patients were being assessed. The initial four victims, along with the shooter, were declared to have injuries incompatible with life. The sixth person was assessed and moved off the scene en route to the hospital within just a few minutes and was given the best opportunity at survival because of the coordination between the Sheriff's Office and fire rescue," Orange County Fire Rescue Chief Otto Drozd said.

That sixth victim died at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Officials said that anyone who has friends or family members who work at Fiamma can call 407-679-0100 ex. 3087 for more information. A designation reunification location has been set up at Full Sail University at the Live 1 building. The address is 3535 North Forsyth Road, Winter Park.

Shelley Adams said her sister, Sheila McIntyre, of Orlando, was in the bathroom at Fiamma Inc. when she heard gunshots. Adams said her sister called her and kept repeating, "My boss is dead. My boss is dead."

McIntyre's husband, Mark McIntrye, said that she knew the gunman.

"She's very upset but she's OK," he said.

Sheila McIntyre, who was not injured, and other witnesses were taken to a nearby fire academy, Adams said.

The Orange County business is the North American branch of Fiamma, an Italian company founded in 1945. Fiamma means flame in Italian. The company supplies parts for RVs and the awnings to dealerships and repair shops.

Fiamma Inc. president Carlo Pozzi leads the manufacturing company.

Demings, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and other local law enforcement officials are at the scene. 

Alan Rodriguez, the owner of TST Auto Subaru on Forsyth Road, said he arrived for work just before 8 a.m. and saw people running from the business. He said one of them motioned to deputies that someone had a gun.

"(They were) just running in every direction," said Rodriguez, who added that he has not yet been contacted by authorities.

Another business owner said he closed his shop for the day due to concern for his employees' safety.

Several law enforcement vehicles are at the scene and K-9 units searched the area, News 6's Johny Fernandez reported. The FBI is also investigating the shooting.