Dive Brief:
- A man, currently identified as 43-year-old Tyrone Auzenne, has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing his boss at the City Department of Solid Waste facility in southeast Houston. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.
- According to city police, the victim was 55-year-old Michael Vaughns, a man who worked for the city for decades. "He did what he had to do to take care of his family," said Vaughns' cousin, Griffin Jackson, to ABC13. "He came to work everyday. He was respectful of others and that's the type of person he was."
- There are currently no other suspects, and no one else inside the facility was hurt. A motive is still being investigated.
Dive Insight:
"Unfortunately, the waste sector is not immune to this type of senseless workplace violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with Vaughns' family and his co-workers in Houston," said SWANA CEO David Biderman in an email.
While safety is a regularly highlighted issue in the waste industry, events like this one in Houston may force companies and associations to contact firms to train employees on how to react to shooters in the workplace.
"At any given time, there could be as many as 100 employees inside who are assigned to work here," said John Cannon with the Houston Police Department to ABC13. "At the time of the shooting, we're told there were less than 10, most likely 4 or 5 employees who were inside at the time."
HR Dive reports that employees should be trained to work together to 'disrupt and confuse' shooters. "Some firms also teach employees how to barricade rooms by stacking chairs, desks and other items in front of doors, as well as using belts and computer cords to secure hinges and doorknobs."