Police said the shooting killed one employee at Nippon Paint Automotive Americas and forced a temporary shelter-in-place order.
LANSING, IL — Police searched Friday for a gunman who killed an employee inside a suburban Chicago factory Thursday afternoon, sending workers fleeing from Nippon Paint Automotive Americas and prompting a large law enforcement response across central Lansing.
The shooting drew about 100 officers to the area around East 170th Street, across from the village hall and police department. Lansing police said the gunman ran from the plant after the attack and had not been found by Thursday night. Investigators described the shooting as an isolated, targeted attack, but said the suspect should be considered armed.
Police said the shooting happened about 12:45 p.m. to 12:48 p.m. Thursday inside the Nippon Paint Automotive Americas facility in the 2700 block of 170th Street. Officers arrived within minutes and found one man shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Lansing Police Chief Al Phillips said officers began checking the plant and nearby buildings after witnesses reported the shooter fled on foot. “We’ve exhausted all leads at this time, and believe the subject is not in the area,” Phillips said later Thursday. The victim’s name had not been released as of Friday morning, pending official identification and family notification.
The suspect was described by police as a Black man about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 160 pounds. Police said he was wearing a black hoodie, a black durag and a white surgical mask. He was last seen running south from the scene on 170th Street. Officers used canines, drones and a helicopter while searching the area. Police also said investigators were reviewing surveillance video from homes and businesses near the factory. The company’s plant includes four buildings and had more than 200 employees on site, officials said. Some workers witnessed the shooting, and others were evacuated to areas across the street while police secured the property.
The attack disrupted a busy industrial area near Lansing’s municipal offices and schools. Police ordered nearby residents and schools to shelter in place shortly after the shooting as officers moved through the area with long guns and tactical equipment. That order was lifted about four hours later after police said they believed the gunman had left the immediate area. The shooting took place in daylight inside a facility tied to automotive coatings production. Officials had not said whether the suspect was an employee, a former employee or someone with another connection to the victim or the business. Police also had not publicly identified a motive.
Phillips said investigators believe the victim was targeted, but he did not release details on why police reached that conclusion. No charges had been announced by Friday morning, and no arrest had been reported. Detectives were interviewing employees and other possible witnesses, collecting video and checking nearby properties for evidence. Police said anyone who sees the suspect should call 911, but officials did not announce a broader public threat after the shelter order was lifted. The Cook County medical examiner’s office was expected to confirm the victim’s identity and cause of death after notification of relatives and completion of its early review.
Outside the facility, workers gathered after being evacuated while officers moved around the plant and nearby streets. Residents described a tense afternoon as police vehicles, helicopters and officers filled the area. Nicole Love, who lives nearby, said the shooting left people unsettled because it happened during the day inside a workplace. “I’m still gonna be uneasy until we know that this suspect has been caught,” Love said. Nippon Paint Automotive Americas President and CEO Michael Leonard said production would likely be halted while the investigation continued, and the plant was expected to remain closed through Thursday and possibly Friday.
The search remained active Friday, with police still seeking the masked gunman and investigators working through witness statements and camera footage from the area around East 170th Street.
Author note: Last updated June 5, 2026.