Arthur Hastings Wise, 43, of North Augusta, in a police hand out mug of the suspected gunman in a shooting at R.E. Phelon Co. Inc. in AIken, S.C., on Monday, Sept.15, 1997. Four workers were killed, three were wounded at the mower and chainsaw part manufacturer. Wise was found at the factory in critical condition after ingesting an unknown substance. SPECIAL

Victims: Wise had targets

Phelon workers say suspect sought those he blamed for his dismissal

Web posted September 18, 1997

 Fatal shootings
 Shooting suspect held up bank
 Workers attend grief session

By Kathy Steele
South Carolina Bureau

AIKEN - Accused gunman Arthur Hastings Wise had an agenda Monday when he walked into R.E. Phelon Co. and opened fire, according to several plant employees.

Two days after the shootings, some workers at the manufacturing plant are willing to say what police can't or won't.

Mr. Wise was fired from Phelon for violent behavior, company owner Dale Phelon said Wednesday.

``He was after everybody he blamed for being fired,'' said Sue Ewing, who was filling in for a receptionist in Phelon's main lobby when the shooting rampage began.

Those who were shot had arguments with Mr. Wise or got jobs the alleged gunman wanted, said Mrs. Ewing, who called 911 shortly after 3 p.m. before fleeing to safety.

Sheryl Wood, 27, David Moore, 30, Leonard Filyaw, 30, and Charles Griffeth, 56, died. Three others were wounded.

Mr. Wise passed by some employees but shot at others as he walked through the plant, Sheriff Howard Sellers told a news conference Tuesday. Mr. Phelon said Mr. Wise walked past his glassed-in office during the shooting spree but never confronted him.

Solicitor Barbara Morgan said she plans to meet with Sheriff Sellers and investigators today to review the case.

``I can see how employees would have that perception (that victims were targeted), but it wouldn't be possible to comment at this stage of the investigation,'' she said.

Mr. Wise worked as a machine operator and was employed by the company about four years. He was fired about two months ago.

``(Mr. Wise) was terminated because he had a violent behavior and he was a threat to the other employees,'' Mr. Phelon said. He refused to elaborate because of the ongoing investigation.

Charles Burckhalter, a plant employee who said he trained Mr. Wise, said it seemed as if Mr. Wise wanted to frighten people.

``He wanted everyone to know that he had been in prison. He liked for people to be afraid of him,'' Mr. Burckhalter said. ``People were afraid of him. That way, no one would mess with him.''

Fellow workers said it was well-known that Mr. Wise told personnel officials that he would be back.

If Mr. Wise didn't target specific people, he seemed to focus on certain departments like tool and die and quality assurance, said Ronnie Swancey, a Phelon punch press operator.

``He had some targets because he was on Mr. Griffeth and he was the one doing the firing and hiring. He had final say,'' Mr. Swancey said.

Mr. Griffeth, the company's human resources director, was the first person killed.

When Mr. Wise walked into the human resources office, secretary Pam Holley and an unidentified employee were in the front room, Mrs. Ewing said. Mr. Wise ordered the employee out and snatched the phone from Ms. Holley's hand, she said.

Mrs. Ewing said she was told that Mr. Wise then walked into Mr. Griffeth's room and shot him.

Victims Mr. Moore and Mr. Filyaw worked in departments where Mr. Wise had applied for positions, and Ms. Wood got a quality-assurance job that Mr. Wise sought, Mrs. Ewing said.

Mr. Wise, 43, of North Augusta, has been charged with one murder. Authorities expect to also charge him with three more counts of murder, three counts of assault and battery with intent to kill, six counts of possession of a pistol while committing a violent crime, and second-degree burglary for unlawful entry, said Aiken County sheriff's Lt. Michael Frank.

The investigation could lead to additional charges, he said.

Two of the injured remained Wednesday at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. John Mucha, 60, who was shot in the stomach, was listed in fair condition. Security guard Lt. Stan Vance, 49, remained in serious condition. Jerry Corley, 44, was treated and released Monday.

Alex Smith, who works in the assembly department, attended Aiken Technical College with Mr. Wise. He said he didn't know Mr. Wise well, but spoke to him occasionally about sports and other subjects.

``(Mr. Wise) wanted to advance,'' Mr. Smith said. ``Every time he bid for it, someone else got it.''

Police found Mr. Wise about two hours after the shooting Monday in an upstairs quality-assurance office. He was lying on the floor near a 9mm semiautomatic gun.

Mr. Wise had swallowed an unknown substance that nauseated him, and he was admitted to Aiken Regional Medical Centers in critical condition. Police have not said what the substance was.

On Wednesday, Mr. Wise's condition was upgraded to fair, and he could be moved to a state prison soon, police said.

``I can't give a timetable on it. But the view is if he's moved, he'll go to a correctional facility that is equipped to continue with his medical care,'' Lt. Frank said.

Fatal shootings

Here is a chronology of fatal shootings at Augusta area workplaces and schools:

Sept. 15, 1997: R.E. Phelon Inc. in Aiken - Arthur Hastings Wise, 43, a former employee, was arrested in the shooting deaths of four people. Three others were injured.

Sept. 16, 1996: Aiken County Department of Social Services in North Augusta - David Mark Hill, 37, is awaiting trial for the shooting death of three social workers.

Oct. 13, 1995: Blackville-Hilda High School near Blackville, S.C., and Hilda, S.C. - Toby Sincino, then 16, while on suspension, returned to the school with a gun, killing a teacher and wounding another. He then killed himself.March 18, 1993: Harlem High School - Edward Bryant Gillom, then 15, went to school armed with a gun, killing a schoolmate and wounding another student. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Oct. 8, 1991: Community Mental Health Center in Augusta - Stephen James Lawrence, a mental patient, is serving a life sentence for shooting at the center, leaving one dead and four injured.

Sept. 26, 1988: Oakland Elementary School in Greenwood, S.C. - Jamie Wilson, then 19, received the death penalty for the murder of three third-graders. He wounded seven other students and two teachers during a shooting spree.

May 27, 1987: Navy Recruiting Station at Southgate Shopping Center - George Irvin Cail walked into the office and opened fire, killing one man and injuring another. Mr. Cail was committed to a mental institution.

Aug. 19, 1983: Johnston (S.C.) Post Office - Perry Bush Smith, then 55, a former mail carrier, shot to death Johnston's postmaster and wounded a Johnston police officer and two other postal workers.