2 Shot Dead, 1 Wounded At Kraft Foods

PHILADELPHIA - A woman who had just been suspended from her job and escorted from a Northeast Philadelphia Kraft Foods facility returned with a handgun and opened fire Thursday, killing two people and critically injuring a third, police said.

Approximately 100 people were inside the building at the time of the shooting.

The suspected shooter was taken into custody about an hour later. She has been identified as 43-year-old Yvonne Hiller, Fox 29's Steve Keeley reported.

Hiller had worked there for the last 15 years. Police said she was suspended Thursday night and returned less than 10 minutes later.

Police said she crashed her car through a fence and then entered the Kraft Foods building ’ formerly a Nabisco plant ’ on the 12000 block of Roosevelt Boulevard near Byberry Road as the 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. shift was coming to an end.

According to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, "8:35 is what we have recorded as the time she was escorted out. The call came in at 8:44 of a person with a gun ... a .357 Magnum that she apparently reloaded. We did find some shell casings on the third floor."

That's where police said the shooting occurred. Sources told Fox 29 News the suspect shot one woman in the back of the head before then shooting the two others.

Sources also tell Fox 29 News that the two dead victims are women, and the wounded survivor is a man.

Police and SWAT soon swarmed the plant. The woman surrendered but not until she had fired through a wall at the first arriving officers.

"We're very fortunate," Ramsey said. "There were seven people actually trapped in close proximity to where she was actually taken into custody. They were hiding, and they were able to let us know where they were, and SWAT came in and were able to disarm her and extract them."

The police commissioner added, "I dont know what her motive is, and I don't want to guess."

Adam Ryan works at the plant and was inside the building at the time of the shooting. He told Fox 29, "I heard the gunfire on the third floor. As I came down, I heard people on walkie-talkies that there was a woman with a gun."

Numerous roads surrounding the plant that were closed during the situation have since re-opened.

Kraft issued a statement hours after the shooting identifying the suspect as a manufacturing employee.

"We are very sad to report that two employees died as a result of this incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families. The loss of a loved one is a great sorrow," the statement read.

Kraft said that, in addition to the third wounded employee who was hospitalized, one contract worker suffered a less-seriously injury.

"We also send our well wishes to the injured employees and their families," the statement read. "We are working closely with the authorities as they investigate this situation, and our facility is closed until further notice. This is a tragic loss for all of us. To assist our employees, we will be providing counseling services at the facility.At this time, we are still trying to confirm the facts. So, this is all the information I can give you. We again express our deepest condolences to the families who have been touched by this tragedy."