European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 16, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Inside stripes d Senate oks smoking ban on Domestic flights Page 4 d the pleasures of pie & Mash Page 13 d astros Mike Scott posts 20th win sports Page 21 d Bush doubles food Aid for Poland Back Page the stars and stripes authorize of unofficial publication f of the . Meo forces vol. 48. No. 152 saturday september 16,19 it of i Sami d 8693 a gunman kills 7, wounds 14 takes own life in by. Plant rampage by the Cox news service Louisville by. A distraught Man armed with an assault Rifle and an assortment of other weapons killed seven co workers and wounded 14 others and then took his own life thursday in a shooting rampage at a downtown Louisville printing Plant. Witnesses said the Man. Joseph t. Wesbecker 47, was looking for his superiors when he began a method ical search of the Slan Dard gravure co. Plant carrying an ak-47 assault Rifle and other weapons in a duffle bag. After leaving a Trail of victims Over three floors Wesbecker took his own life with a pistol police said. Five of the wounded i remained in critical condition late thursday. One person who was no wounded suffered a heart Wesbecker attack and was taken to Humana University Hospital. Authorities said Wes Becker was on permanent disability leave from the printing firm and held a grudge against management for refusing to Transfer him to a less stressful Job. Head recently talked incessantly of firearms according to co workers who said Wesbecker has suffered a series of nervous breakdowns that were Job related. Besides the ak-47. Wesbecker had two automatic pistols a German made 9mm pistol and a .38-Calibcr revolver. Several Hundred rounds of ammunition were also found in the bag Wesbecker carried into the build ing shortly after 8 30 a.m., police said. I said i was coming Back. Now Here i am Wes Becker said when he entered the building according to co workers. Police responded to reports of shooting at the Plant immediately according to Louisville police chief Richard Dotson and came close to catching Wes Becker As he worked his Way through the building. Bodies were found slumped throughout the Plant which prints sunday magazines and other color inserts for newspapers. Hours after the shooting stunned workers still stood outside the downtown building splattered with their friends blood. Several workers survived by hiding under their see gunman on Back Page an emergency Cam carries a victim of thursday s shooting rampage from the printing Plant where he was shot. Killing spree prompted by desire of get even Louisville. By. A former co workers de scribed the Man who shut seven people to death and wounded 14 others before killing himself at a printing Plant thursday As a quiet hard worker whose forced leave for mental problems led to dreams of revenge. He said before he left he would get even. I remember that George Swine said after 47-year-old Joseph was Becker s rampage at the Standard gravure co. Plant. Police said Wesbecker had been argumentative and confrontational for years and was being treated for mental disorders. Some people at Standard gravure said Wesbecker. Who was carrying several weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition when the killing began thursday had become obsessed with guns Over the past year. Was Backer s Friend. John Tingle worked with him for 17 years before Wesbecker was put on permanent disability two years ago. He was always level headed fun Loving Thrifty. I be never known him to carry a gun or use a  said Tingle. We always usually had a Good laugh at  said Wesbecker became upset when manage ment at Standard gravure. Which prints magazines and newspaper inserts refused to accept a doctor recommendation that pcs Backer Slop operating machines that had caused him stress. They forced him Back to work but the doctor said he could t work the folder anymore that was too much stress and tension Tingle said. After a week s leave Wesbecker returned to work but management again told him he must continue in his former Job. That s when his mental problems began Tingle said. It s terrible that they could push a Man that  Tingle said we Backer told him get out of my Way John i told them i d be Back when he approached see killing on Back Page Senate panel to seek drug fund solution. _ c n