A disgruntled employee went on a shooting rampage yesterday at a beer distribution firm in Connecticut, killing eight co-workers before turning the gun on himself, police and media said.

Officers were called to the scene at Hartford Distributors in Manchester, Connecticut, shortly after 7.30 a.m. (1130 GMT) at the time of a shift change, with 35 to 40 people inside.

“There were nine individuals, including the suspect, who were killed during the shooting,” said a Manchester police statement. “We are presently in the process of trying to identify the victims and make notifications to family members.”

The shooter, who local media reports said had been called in by managers for a disciplinary hearing, was found dead some 40 minutes later after having shot a total of 10 people then himself.

Two wounded were transported to a local hospital and “expected to survive”, the police statement said.

The shooter was named by the local Hartford Courant newspaper as Omar Thornton, a 34-year-old driver for the firm.

Mr Thornton was described by a Teamsters union official quoted by the paper as a recent hire with a disciplinary problem.

“The union was bringing him in to meet with the company to remedy the problem,” said Hollis. “He started shooting.”