2 hurt in ‘active shooter situation’ at meat processing plant in North Carolina

Two workers were hurt in an “active shooter situation” that played out just after midnight at a meat processing plant in North Carolina, according to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

A suspect was arrested, officials said in a Facebook post early Thursday. He was identified by ABC11 as someone who worked at the plant in the town of Tar Heel, about 85 miles south of Raleigh.

The shooting occurred just after 12 a.m. at the Smithfield Packing plant, the sheriff’s office said.

“Two people were injured. Our officers arrived and administered first aid and cleared the buildings. The scene is now secure and the suspect has been arrested after a short search,” according to the sheriff’s office.

The news station WECT identified the suspect as Jaquante Hakeem Williams of St. Pauls.

Investigators did not release names or conditions of the two wounded, but WECT identified them as plant workers Michelle Hernandez and Anthony Ratley.

Agencies responding to the scene included the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office , N.C. Highway Patrol , Bladenboro police and Bladen EMS.

This story was originally published November 21, 2019 at 5:48 AM.