Employee Gunned Down on First Day of Work

The incident happened a little after midnight.

A 29-year-old employee is dead after he was gunned down during his first day of work.

John Eric Cole reported to work Tuesday at Samuel Associated Tube Group, a manufacturer of small-diameter, electric resistance-welded and fabricated carbon steel tubing in Pinson, Alabama, a small town near Birmingham. 

A little after midnight, he was gunned down by a co-worker, who shot Cole multiple times in the back. Cole succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead after emergency personnel arrived. 

The shooter was identified as 34-year-old Dexter Rashad Walker, a fellow associate at Samuel. Walker fled the scene, but once he was identified, he returned to the facility and surrendered to law enforcement, according to AL.com.

Samuel Associated Tube Group has approximately 200 employees in Alabama. In a statement to WBRC-TV, the company said it is cooperating with the investigation.

It is still unknown what sparked the incident. According to the company, Cole and Walker had previously known one another outside of work. 

The company said, "The safety of our team members is our top priority and we are ensuring our team members are fully supported during this difficult situation."

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