On the morning of November 6, 2012, a tragic incident unfolded at the Valley Protein meat processing plant in central Fresno, California. Lawrence Nathaniel Jones, a 42-year-old employee, initiated a shooting spree that resulted in the deaths of two coworkers and injuries to two others before he took his own life. Among the victims was 32-year-old Salvador Diaz, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jones began his shift at approximately 4:58 a.m., and around 8:20 a.m., he retrieved a
COP .357 Magnum four-shot derringer handgun from his backpack. He first approached Salvador Diaz in the grinding room, pressed the firearm against Diaz's head, and fatally shot him. Jones then proceeded to the deboning room, where he similarly executed 34-year-old Manuel Verdin by shooting him in the back of the head. Following these attacks, Jones shot 28-year-old Arnulfo Conrriguez in the neck, leaving him severely wounded. As 32-year-old Fatima Lopez attempted to flee, Jones shot her in the lower back. He then attempted to shoot another coworker but had exhausted his ammunition. After reloading his weapon outside the facility, Jones shot himself in the head and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigations revealed that Jones had a criminal history dating back to 1991, including convictions for armed robbery and vehicle theft. In 2004, he was diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder and drug-induced psychotic disorder. Despite his troubled past, Jones had been employed at Valley Protein since September 2011 and was described by colleagues as a model employee who largely kept to himself. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, as Jones did not leave any explanation for his actions.
The firearm used in the shooting was identified as a stolen COP .357 Magnum derringer with its serial number filed off. Authorities discovered 24 rounds of .357-caliber ammunition and 21 rounds of .38-caliber ammunition in Jones's apartment. The tragic event left the Fresno community mourning the loss of Salvador Diaz and Manuel Verdin, while also grappling with the injuries sustained by Conrriguez and Lopez.
