A United Rentals employee fatally shot two coworkers and wounded a third Wednesday morning in Manassas, Virginia, before dying by suicide on Interstate 81 hours later, police said.
The Manassas City Police Department identified the men who died as Richard Lamot, 48, and Christopher Serrano, 33. The third employee was in stable condition as of a Wednesday afternoon update, according to police.
Police Chief Doug Keen described the shooting at the facility at 9415 Wellington Road as workplace violence. Marvin Grant, 37, of Charlotte, North Carolina, arrived at work and told a coworker “three people are going to die,” then pulled a handgun and opened fire, Keen said.
Investigators have not determined a motive. Keen noted that the lack of answers brings no relief to the victims’ families. Grant was a “fairly new employee” of United Rentals, according to the chief.
Officers who responded found three wounded employees on site. Two were in the garage area when the shooting began, Keen said, and the third had come into the garage from an office area.
Two of the men were taken to Prince William Medical Center. The third was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital and is expected to survive, WTOP reported.
Keen said there were “many shots fired,” though investigators had not yet determined how many. Detectives are reviewing video from inside the building.
The chief said he knew Lamot personally. He described him as a devoted family man who coached youth football.
Grant fled in a silver Toyota Camry with temporary North Carolina plates, according to Keen. Grant reportedly changed the car’s tags overnight, the chief added.
Police alerted law enforcement agencies across Virginia and worked with state and federal partners to find him. Virginia State Police tracked Grant’s cellphone to Harrisonburg and believed he might be in Rockingham County, just north of Augusta County.
Troopers first tried to stop Grant at a rest area off I-81, but he got back into his vehicle and drove away, according to state police. Troopers followed him.
About five miles later, Grant pulled onto the shoulder near the 227-mile marker in Augusta County, more than 100 miles from the shooting scene. Police said he died by suicide around 10:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Nearby schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution, and Keen said those lockdowns have since been lifted. Jennie Dean Elementary School students and staff were moved to Metz Middle School while police secured the area.
Dean Elementary was to remain under secure status through the end of the school day, police said. Normal operations could continue, but no one was allowed to enter or leave the building.
Autopsies will be performed on the two men who were killed, and the investigation continues. Investigators are also working with United Rentals to determine whether Grant, who has a North Carolina address, had a local address as well.
