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U.S. NEWS Friday 28 February 2020
Neighbors: Brewery gunman built

weapons from mail-order parts

By GRETCHEN EHLKE and scribed him as a nice guy The shooting happened at
TODD RICHMOND and helpful neighbor who an 82-acre (33-hectare)
Associated Press enjoyed building guns with complex that includes a
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Mil- mail-order parts. mix of corporate offices
waukee electrician who Several years ago Ferrill and brewing facilities and
police identified Thursday slipped off or fell off a lad- employs more than 1,000
as the man who fatally shot der at the brewery and hurt people. It's widely known
five co-workers at one of his shoulder, forcing him to in the Milwaukee area as
the nation's largest brewer- miss work. "Miller Valley," a reference
ies enjoyed building guns, He told Roenspies that to the Miller Brewing Co.
according to neighbors. "spies" from the brewery that is now part of Molson
Authorities said 51-year- were lurking in the neigh- Coors.
old Anthony Ferrill opened borhood, watching his A massive red Miller sign
fire at the Molson Coors activities to make sure he that towers over the com- The Molson Coors facility is seen Thursday Feb. 27, 2020, in
Brewing Co. complex on wasn't faking the injury. plex is a well-known symbol Milwaukee.
Wednesday, killing five Once he pointed out the in a city where beer and Associated Press
male employees before spies' car to her, she said. brewing are intertwined center the size of five foot- Thursday calling the shoot-
turning his gun on himself. The spying "irritated" him, with local history. The com- ball fields. ing a "senseless tragedy"
His motive remains a mys- she said. plex features a 160-year- Brewery Workers Local 9 and alerting members that
tery; police say the case Still, Roenspies, 82, said old brewery, a packaging of the United Auto Work- grief counselors would be
is still under investigation. Ferrill was a "gentleman" center that fills thousands ers, which represents about available at their union hall
They also haven't released who checked up on her to of cans and bottles every 400 workers at the com- in West Allis, a Milwaukee
details about how the make sure she was all right. minute and a distribution plex, issued a statement suburb.q
shooting unfolded. "I considered him a son,"
Milwaukee police Chief Al- she said. "He wasn't violent.
fonso Morales said the vic- He wasn't a drunk. He was
tims were all from the Mil- a gentleman. I just can't
waukee area. He identified believe it."
them as Jesus Valle Jr., 33, Another neighbor, Eliza-
of Milwaukee; Gennady beth LaPine, described
Levshetz, 61, of Mequon; Ferrill as a quiet person
Trevor Wetselaar, 33, of Mil- who walked his Doberman
waukee; Dana Walk, 57, of pinscher every day, and
Delafield; and Dale Hud- would sometimes throw
son, 60, of Waukesha. a ball around for his dog
Ferrill's neighbors said he in the street. She said she
was a married father of lived across the street from
two adult children and one Ferrill for 11 years.
younger daughter. They "It's heartbreaking," she
said he had worked at the said.
brewery for about 15 years LaPine said Ferrill had sev-
as an electrician. eral cars and always kept
His brother, Benjamin Ferrill, them shiny. She said that
of The Colony, Texas, told the last time she saw Ferrill
The Associated Press: "It's was Sunday, and he had
a tragic loss to everybody. polished up his burgundy
We're still trying to digest it." Chrysler, which she called
Erna Roenspies, who lived his "Sunday car," and took
next door to Ferrill, de- it for a ride.