Officials: 2 Employees Dead After Triple Shooting On Campus

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A triple-shooting investigation on the Ohio State campus remains open after two university employees die and another is injured after officials say one of those employees opened fire after a poor performance review.

NBC 4 reports with the FAST FACTS from local authorities.

Three university employees were shot during an incident at a maintenance building on campus early Tuesday morning.

Two employees were killed, one of whom was the suspect, and one employee remains in stable condition.

Officers were called to 2000 Tuttle Park Place, near Ohio Stadium, around 3:30 a.m. One employee was pronounced dead at the scene, and two other employees were transported to the Ohio State University Medical Center Main. One victim was in critical condition, and one was stable. Authorities said the suspect was in police custody.

Ohio State University Police Division Chief Paul Denton identified the three involved employees during an 11 a.m. news conference.

Building Service Manager Larry Wallington, 48, was a victim in the incident. Wallington was a 10-year employee of the university.

Wallington was pronounced dead at the scene by CFD medics.

Operations Shift Leader Henry Butler, 60, also was a victim. Butler has been an employee with the university for 10 years and nine months.

He remains in stable condition at Ohio State Medical Center Main.

Nathaniel Brown, 51, was the shooting suspect. Brown's title was custodial worker. He had been with the university since Oct. 2009 and was a probationary employee.

Denton said Brown sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Brown was found in the garage, multi-use kind of area, where the shooting occurred.

Brown was treated at the scene and transported to OSU Medical Center Main. Brown was pronounced dead after 7 a.m. Tuesday.

"More than half a dozen employees of the facility's operation division were working at the maintenance building when the suspect entered the office suite with a gun and began shooting," Denton said.

Denton said those employees and co-workers have been offered grief counseling and several levels of support from the university.

"Nathaniel Brown had a poor performance evaluation and came back to initiate this incident," Denton said.

Officials said Brown was scheduled to work this morning and walked in wearing dark clothing and carrying two firearms.

Officials said students weren't in danger at any point during the incident.

SUSPECT'S PERSONNEL FILE

Documents from Brown's personnel file showed that supervisor's complained that Brown was tardy, slept on the job and had problems following instructions.

The university sent him a letter on March 2, informing him that his employment was to end Saturday.

The file included hand-written notes about Brown's work at the university that paint a picture of a difficult employee who sometimes displayed bizarre and hostile behavior.

Specific notes in the file describe an evening where supervisors checked up on Brown. When they found him, Brown apparently asked the managers what they were doing and appeared to threaten to pull a knife on them, according to the personnel records.

One witness said Brown started to approach them and they left on an elevator.

A co-worker said Brown, "Tries to intimidate me because he thinks I've cost him his job."

The same co-worker also wrote, "Employees told me he was asking what kind of car I drive."

Another note in the file claims that a co-worker who trains all custodians said, "This is the first she can't train."

Residents who lived near Brown on Grasmere Avenue told NBC 4 they were shocked and added that Brown kept to himself.

MORE: Brown's Full Personnel File

FAMILY, CO-WORKERS REACT

"It's devastating. We're taking it one minute at a time using prayer," said Paula Williams, Wallington's sister-in-law. "We always do."

Williams said Wallington was a leader in his family's spiritual walk and his wife is a minister.

"You could call on him. He'd show up with support," Williams said.

For fellow employees, the news came as a shock.

"It happened right around the corner from our office. It's scary. You never know what is going to happen and when," said Scott Dunn, an OSU employee.

UNIVERSITY RESPONSE

Senior Vice President and Special Assistant to President E. Gordon Gee Jeff Kaplan said Gee has been out of state on business.

Kaplan said Gee has been fully informed and is planning to return to campus as scheduled Tuesday afternoon.

Campus and CPD officers surrounded the maintenance building and the area of McCracken Power Plant for about 45 minutes after the 911 call.

The shooting prompted mass communication between the university and students.

Officials sent an emergency text alert about the shooting at about 4:22 a.m.

The message alerted subscribers, "Shooting near McCracken Power Plant. Suspect in custody. All is safe. Avoid area."

The incident location and surrounding area was secured before 5:15 a.m., according to campus police.

"I'm extremely satisfied and appreciative of the way the staff responded, notified and took cover," Baisden said.

Officials said they will examine if the Buckeye Alert system, with more than 25,000 subscribers, should be mandatory or voluntary for students.

The university continued normal operations Tuesday.

STATEMENT FROM OSU EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
The safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff is our highest priority. University officials remain diligent in maintaining a secure environment for all campus visitors.

The university continues normal operations. Classes are being held and normal work schedules are in effect. Safety officials will continue to provide updates as more details are available.

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