A warehouse in New Albany was the setting for a tragic shooting last night, resulting in the death of one person and leaving five others injured. In a press briefing this morning, New Albany Police Chief Greg Jones identified the suspect as Bruce Reginald Foster III, an employee of KDC/One, the beauty product company that operates the facility. Per WBNS, around 150 people were inside the location at the time the shooting took place, around 10:20 p.m., at 8825 Smith Mill Road North.
While initially refusing to pinpoint the type of weapon used, Chief Jones later confirmed the recovery of a handgun at the scene, as reported by WBNS. Though the suspect does not drive, he was seen leaving the facility in a car, captured by a camera, with no license plate number identified, and law enforcement does not seem to have a suspect vehicle for the pursuit. Jones implored, "I would recommend he turn himself in."
The shooting seemed to be a deliberate act, though no confrontation preceded it, as mentioned by a spokesperson on the scene and reported by WBNS. The facility's extensive size meant several employees were unaware that an incident had occurred. Foster, described as about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, remains at large despite law enforcement checking multiple addresses connected to him without success.
Authorities were alerted to the scene before 10:30 p.m., with first responders attending to the victims, but the details on the conditions of those hospitalized remain unrevealed. Making contact with multiple occupants within a unit, a Columbus police SWAT team executed a search warrant at a residence linked to Foster "out of an abundance of caution," finding no connection to the incident, as described in a statement obtained by NBC4i. "This has been a very tragic situation," said Jones through ABC6, expressing condolences and emphasizing the community's readiness for such an event despite their hopes it would never transpire.
The incident is now the third such shooting at a large warehouse in Central Ohio since 2022, marking a concerning trend. Agencies like the ATF and Ohio BCI are assisting in the ongoing investigation, which is expected to keep the facility closed throughout the day. As new information becomes available, updates are anticipated.
