The murderer of Illinois, Gary Martin, seemed to be doing a few hours before the job killed

Before assuming the assassination of five of his colleagues, Gary Montez Martin went to his local Circle K convenience store to buy almost daily cigars. He seemed to be fine, according to the store's employees.

"He spent almost every day buying two or three Black & Mild cigars," said Ricardo Moreno, 24, an office worker at Circle K, just steps from Martin's apartment.

Moreno said Martin was an engaging and happy customer who had made a difference in the life of a store employee. The two would discuss life and work and Moreno would make Martin talk about his smoking habit.

A few hours after leaving the article on Friday, Martin went to his workplace and killed his colleagues and six police officers deadly before being killed by police who had arrived at a factory in London. Aurora, Illinois, where the shooting had occurred, officials said. .

Martin, a veteran of the 15-year-old Henry Pratt, was fired just before shooting began, authorities said. Chief Kristen Ziman said at a press conference Friday night that Martin had used a Smith & Wesson handgun to shoot his five male colleagues. Police were investigating whether Martin had obtained the pistol legally, Ziman said.

Martin allegedly began a battle with police officers who arrived a few minutes after unrestrained calls were made in the factory where he allegedly worked as a valve fitter. He then hid inside the 29,000 square foot cavernous factory while the police teams searched for him for nearly an hour. When they found him, he shot them and fought back, killing him, Ziman said.

Martin lived in a large apartment complex about five miles northeast of the factory. The police obtained a search warrant and raided his apartment on Friday night. "At that time, I am told that we have found nothing," Ziman said.

One kilometer from his complex was the Circle K store where Moreno worked. The man with whom he walked almost daily was cheerful and optimistic.

"When he entered the store, he always smiled, honestly," said Moreno. "In fact, I became deputy director because of one of his compliments."

Moreno started working on the night shift at Circle K about two years ago and often finished his shift when Martin came to buy his cigars early in the morning.

"He saw me scrub the floors, clean the counters and make fresh coffee," said Moreno.

Aurora, Illinois, shooting dead: Licensed worker killed at least five people, authorities say

"We have a new manager, but he did not know if I should be promoted or not. And one day, Gary came in and told the boss what a good job I had done and how much I had worked hard. He encouraged me and pushed me forward. "

Moreno said his colleagues had seen Martin just that morning and that he seemed to be fine.

"When I heard that it was him, I was caught off guard just because I did not expect it from him. He was perhaps the last guy I thought of filming the place, "Moreno said.

The only thing he could think of was that Martin was upset about the loss of his job.

"I was thinking about him, what could have triggered all that, I can understand, when you grew up and you've been used to your job for 15 years, it's hard to think about losing it." he declared.

Steve Spizewski lived three doors from Martin in his apartment complex. He said he frequently stopped to talk with Martin, who often played outside with drones or remote-controlled cars. Spizewski was going to work Friday afternoon when he saw several police cars spinning in the opposite direction and asked if something had happened at the local shopping center, located on the other side of the road, in front of the complex of apartments. When he heard what Martin had done, he could not believe it.

"I can not say I knew him as one of my best friends, but we always talked and I sat on his porch and ate lunch once in a while," Spizewski said. "He liked to play with his remote control cars and his drones, he liked to work on his car, a deceived Nissan."

Spizewski said he is angry at reports that neighbors have told the media that they are not surprised by Martin's actions. Spizewski asked if these people were making assumptions about Martin just because of the color of his skin.

"Gary was a black man, but a big, terrifying deal," Spizewski said. "You can not judge anyone by his looks … Gary was maybe a beefy guy, but I've never seen him as a nasty guy.

"But what he did, it's not good at all … I feel that everyone is involved … and I feel horrible for his mother."

Spizewski said that he had recently lost his own mother and that Martin "was one of the souls comforting to me".

Spizewski saw Martin for the last time Wednesday afternoon, when they met outside and exchanged little words about the weather he was doing. He said that he did not remember that Martin ever mentioned guns or that he owned them. Spizewski also said that if Martin struggled at work, he did not share it.

"I considered him a friend, but what he did was terrible," Spizewski said. "I'm still in shock."

Officials of Mueller Water Products, the parent company of Henry Pratt Company, issued a statement Friday to the media about the shooting.

"Our heart is with the victims and their loved ones, the first responders, the Aurora community and the entire Mueller family in this extremely difficult time," the statement said. "Our main goal is the health and well-being of our colleagues and we are committed to providing them with all the support they need, as well as their families."

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