California Poultry Processing Plant in Shock after Gunman Kills 1, Wounds 3 and Takes His Own Life

Nov 06, 2012

Poultry Processing Plant in Fresno, Calif. Worker Turns a Gun on His Workers and Shot Himself

A 42-year-old worker at a Fresno, California poultry processing plant was the gunman in a shooting Tuesday that killed one, injured three others and took his own life. The processing plant is known as Valley Protein and the gunman was identified as Lawrence Jones. Officers at the scene found a 32- year-old man shot in the head, who was pronounced dead. Officers also found a 32-year old women who suffered a gunshot wound to her back and a 28-year old man who was shot in the neck. The two survivors were taken to Community Regional Medical Center and are in critical condition.

At the time of the shooting, there were roughly 30 workers inside the plant, of a total of 62 employed by the business. Police received 911 calls around 8:27a.m. this morning from several workers. Jones has a criminal record dating back since the 1990s and was on parole at the time of the shooting.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.