Five years ago today, one of the worst tragedies is state history happened when a gunman opened fire at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, killing eight people, and a somber vigil is planned today to mark the fifth anniversary.
Early on the morning of Aug. 3, 2010, a warehouse driver for the beer distributor was at the company because he was suspected of stealing beer and was being fired.
After that meeting with company and union officials, 34-year-old Omar Thornton went on a rampage, then took his own life. At the time, it was the worst mass shooting in Connecticut history at the time.
A memorial with eight stainless steel pillars in memory of the eight victims has been set up on the beer distributor’s grounds off Chapel Road. The memorial also includes surrounding landscape and a memorial garden.
