Gunman shoots 15, kills 3 before being killed

Authorities say a 38-year-old man wounded three people before he stormed into the Kansas lawnmower parts factory where he worked and shot 15 others, killing three of them. A police officer killed Cedric Ford during an exchange of gunfire, ending the Thursday evening attack at the Excel Industries plant in Hesston, a small city about 30 miles north of Wichita.

Here is a timeline of events in the case, according to the authorities and witnesses:

Around 2.15 pm: Ford shows up on time for his shift at the plant, where he is a painter.

Around 3.30 pm: Someone from the Harvey County sheriff's office goes to the plant and serves Ford with a protection from abuse order.

Around 4.30 pm: Ford doesn't return from a break at the plant.

Around 5 pm: Ford is driving in a residential area near a high school in the nearby community of Newton and shoots a man, wounding him. The man was driving with his two children and was shot in the shoulder. Another vehicle was hit with a bullet, but no one was struck.

Minutes later: Ford drove into oncoming traffic, causing his vehicle and another one to go into a ditch. Ford then shot the motorist and took the person's vehicle.

Minutes after that: Ford pulls into the Excel plant's parking lot and exits the vehicle carrying a rifle. He raises it and shoots someone, wounding the person, according to co-worker Matt Jarrell, who was watching from his truck. Ford then enters the building near the back, where his painting department is located, and begins shooting people.

At 5.23 pm: A Hesston police officer who responded to the scene shoots and kills Ford during an exchange of gunfire.

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