Detroit area Ford worker dies in apparent suicide at stamping factory
By
Shannon Jones
21 October 2017
In another tragic workplace shooting, a young temporary part-time worker at the Ford Woodhaven Stamping Plant south of Detroit apparently killed himself on Friday. At the time of his death the worker was facing disciplinary action for alleged attendance issues, according to press reports.
The victim, Jacoby Hennings, of Harper Woods, was 21 years old and had been working at the plant since March. He had reportedly been written up several times previously for being late. According to eyewitness reports Hennings was sent home by management Friday morning and returned later with a gun.
According to other reports the worker was brought to the union offices in the plant, where he confronted the United Auto Workers local shop chairman.
A police spokesman told Channel 7 Action News, “There was a labor relations issue. At some point, he presented a gun.” Police were called and officers said Hennings turned the gun on himself as they approached.
Reports of a possible bomb at the scene later turned out to be false.
Officials of the United Auto Workers Local 387 at the plant have made no public comments. A call by the World Socialist Web Site to Local 387 has not been returned.
Leonard, a Woodhaven Stamping worker, told ClickOnDetroit, “This morning I was on the line getting ready to go, and then one of the part-timers came in late … It looked like he was under the influence or something. They sent him home. They walked him out.
“About an hour-and-a-half later my chairman comes running through. He tells me to drop everything I’m doing. ‘Run as fast as you can, there is a shooter in the plant.’
“I have anxiety real bad, my chest is hurting.”
The regularity…