Suspect, victims identified after deadly shooting at business in Chester, Pa.
The three victims who were wounded are said to have serious injuries.
CHESTER, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two people are dead and three others are injured after an employee opened fire at a business in Chester, Delaware County, on Wednesday morning.
The suspect, who Action News learned has made threats in the past, is in custody. He was identified as 61-year-old Wilbert Rosado Ruiz at a news conference on Thursday.
The shooting happened around 8:30 a.m. at Delaware County Linen in the 2600 block of W. 4th Street.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found one man dead outside the business and another dead inside.
Officials confirmed the people who died were employees. Authorities identified the victims as Leovanny and Giguenson Peña-Peña, brothers from the Dominican Republic.
"Two individuals who, unfortunately, have lost their life just by showing up at work," Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said.
Authorities said Thursday that two of the three surviving victims are in stable condition, while the other is critical but stable.
Chester Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky described how officers helped to provide aid to one of the shooting victims.
"They put a tourniquet on the male, and then in the laundry area, they put him in a laundry bin and wheeled him outside to get him better medical assistance," said Gretsky. "He is listed in stable condition."
WATCH | Authorities provide updates on deadly shooting at business in Chester, Pa.
According to investigators, when Rosado Ruiz entered the business Wednesday morning, he was seen having a dispute with a female employee. It's unclear what the disagreement was about.
He was then seen walking outside the business to take a phone call. Police then say Rosado Ruiz returned and started shooting.
"He went outside, made a phone call, came back inside with his gun, and started shooting and killing people," Stollsteimer noted.
Video captured Rosado Ruiz "methodically" walking around the floor of the business, Stollsteimer added.
Just under 50 people were inside the business when the shooting started.
"This is a cold-blooded shooting. This is an incident where he walked around the factory and started shooting at people," he said.
The woman who was involved in the dispute was shot during the incident, according to police.
She was able to make it outside the business after being shot, authorities say. That's when Rosado Ruiz allegedly followed her outside, ran after her, and fired several more shots.
However, police say Rosado Ruiz's gun either jammed or was out of ammunition, as the woman was not injured further.
Rosado Ruiz then got into his car and fled the scene.
He was stopped by a police officer from Trainer, Pa., who heard the vehicle description. The suspect was taken into custody at Kane and Culhane streets in Chester.
"Without the support of this community, and these other police departments that surround the City of Chester, I don't know if this would have happened," noted Gretsky.
A police source and a neighbor say that's where the suspect lives, so it appears he was driving home after the shooting.
A gun was found inside the suspect's car, officials say. It wasn't immediately known if that was the same weapon used in the shooting.
Rosado Ruiz is facing a slew of charges, including multiple counts of homicide and aggravated assault.
Police also say Rosado Ruiz is being charged with a firearms offense. While he was legally permitted to own a firearm, authorities say he was not permitted to conceal carry.
Employees said, at first, they thought the sound of gunshots was actually an explosion, possibly from the chemicals used in the cleaning process.
Then, they heard co-workers telling them to get out of the building and take cover.
"We're all scared because of what happened. We saw somebody was coming, but we didn't stay to see what would happen. Everyone just ran for their lives," said an employee.
Authorities say Rosado Ruiz has been working at the business since 2016.
Neighbors told Action News it's hard to forget what they saw and heard during the incident.
"It's off-putting to see this guy every day going to work, that he could be the one that was the trigger. Man who was behind the whole situation," a resident said.
One of the people who was shot is a supervisor at the business, Chester Mayor Stefan Roots said Wednesday.
Officials also stated on Thursday that a day before the shooting, business owners and employees had a meeting to discuss Rosado Ruiz, as there were reported concerns over his behavior.
"My understanding is that he has been complained about by other employees of the business and I believe there was a meeting of employees with the owner of the business the day before," said Stollsteimer.
Rosado Ruiz was set to be arraigned Thursday.
A large cross was erected at Delaware County Linens after the shooting. Just a day after the tragedy, the business was back open once again.
Residents in the area say this shooting has hit close to home.
"My heart is broken for them," said David Wright from Chester. "My heart goes to their family."
"This is a horrible tragedy that affected everyone in this community," Stollsteimer added.
