Cupertino Shooter Shareef Allman Killed by Police
Ending a 24-hour manhunt, police have shot and killed Cupertino shooter Shareef Allman Thursday.
Allman is accused of attacking coworkers at the Lehigh Hanson Permanente Cement Plant early Wednesday morning. He reportedly interrupted a weekly meeting with a handgun and AK-47 assault rifle. He killed three and left seven wounded.
He then fled the scene, forcing nearby schools and neighborhoods into lockdown.
Police finally located the Cupertino shooter at a home in nearby Sunnyvale, according to the San Jose Mercury News. Neighbors report hearing a series of shots followed by a low-flying helicopter around 7:30 a.m.
With the suspect off the streets, people are now turning to the why of the situation.
Reports indicate that Shareef Allman was not a violent man. He ran a nonprofit group for children, and hosted a public access show about peaceful conflict resolution. He also wrote a novel disparaging domestic violence.
But recently his demeanor had changed. A co-worker told the Mercury News that there were problems at work. Allman had recently accused colleagues of being "backstabbers," and claimed that people were out to get him.
There were concerns about his on-the-job safety record, and whether or not he was a safe driver.
It's unclear whether Allman was also having problems at home. It's also unclear when he acquired an arsenal of guns. Police found a shotgun and a second assault rifle in his abandoned car, according to the paper.
In the coming weeks we will learn more about what motivated Cupertino shooter Shareef Allman. But as in many of these situations, we may never know what ultimately caused a good person to snap.
Related Resources:
- Report: Police shoot Calif quarry shooting suspect (Associated Press)
- Police Misconduct and Civil Rights (FindLaw)
- D.C. Gun Law: Semi-Automatic Rifle Ban Upheld by DC Circuit (FindLaw's Decided)