Three Die in Workplace Shooting at Newspaper

A disgruntled employee walked into the production plant for The Providence (R.I.) Journal newspaper on Saturday morning and opened fire.

The gunman killed one coworker and injured another before exiting the building. Police found two other bodies, one of which is believed to be the gunman, in Warwick, R.I.

Family members told police the gunman had been pressured by his coworkers to join the union.

Carlos Pacheco, 38, worked at The Providence Journal’s production facility for 20 years. He walked into the building at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and shot his supervisor, Robert Benetti. He then walked out to the parking lot, where he shot a coworker, Charles Johnson, in the face. Johnson was released from the hospital on Sunday.

Police later found what they believe to be Pacheco’s body inside his burned-out car near the home of Matthew Fandetti, another of Pacheco’s coworkers who police believe is a third victim.

Robert Decherd, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Belo Corp., parent company of The Providence Journal, called Saturday “a very sad day for The Providence Journal and for Belo.” He said the company expressed its deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims, adding, “We also recognize how hurtful these events are for the entire Providence Journal Company, especially the friends and close colleagues of the deceased.”

Howard G. Sutton, publisher of The Providence Journal, said, “Our thoughts and our focus are with our employees and their families. The investigation is in the hands of the Providence police and other responsible police agencies.”

Sutton said the newspaper is cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and that police would distribute any additional information about the incident and the individuals involved.