By Khalida Sarwari and Dan McMenamin
Two people are dead and seven have been injured after a disgruntled employee at a cement plant in Cupertino opened fire on his coworkers early this morning and then tried to carjack a woman while fleeing, a Santa Clara County sheriff’s lieutenant said.
The shooting was reported at about 4:30 a.m. at the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant at 24001 Stevens Creek Blvd., sheriff’s Lt. Rick Sung said.
The suspect, Shareef Allman, showed up for an early morning meeting, then left briefly before returning and allegedly opening fire on his fellow employees in the meeting, Sung said.
Two people died and six others were injured in the shooting, Sung said.
Allman fled the worksite and about an hour later, he allegedly attempted to take a woman’s car at gunpoint and when she refused, he shot her once, according to Sung.
The woman was taken to a hospital to be treated for her injuries, which are not considered life-threatening, Sung said.
A vehicle associated with Allman was later found at a gas station at the intersection of Wolfe and Homestead roads, he said.
Sung said sheriff’s deputies have since evacuated more than a dozen employees from the cement plant and are continuing to search for Allman, who is considered armed and dangerous.
He is described as a black man in his late 40s who is about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 215 pounds, and is believed to be armed with a rifle and handgun, Sung said.
Law enforcement officials from Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Gilroy are assisting the sheriff’s office in the search, he said.
Cupertino Union School District officials said schools in the area remain open this morning but students are being held inside classrooms as a precaution while the gunman remains on the loose.
