Lowe’s Worker on Forklift Shot by Coworker

Safety at Work

Scranton, PA (WorkersCompensation.com) – A Lowe’s worker shot and killed his co-worker during an overnight shift at the store, then allegedly confessed to the murder in an email to human resources.

Police said Christopher Wasnetsky, 36, fired several times at 44-year-old Jeff Moeller while Moeller was working at the Lowe’s in Scranton, Pa., around 12:30 a.m. June 14. When police responded to the store, they found Moeller struck twice in the head and once in the back. He was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Moeller later died from his injuries.

Police identified Wasnetsky as the alleged shooter. He was arrested at the front entrance of the store. Wasnetsky then told police he was the one who called the shooting in to 911 and confessed to the operator that he was the “person that did it,” the Scranton Times Tribune said.

Wasnetsky also told police that prior to the shooting, he sent an email to Lowe’s human resources and management that he was going to do it, and that it could have been avoided if someone from the store had addressed his concerns earlier.

According to Wasnetsky, Moeller had been harassing him at work and that management had done nothing to resolve the issues, despite his repeated filings and claims. He said he had been preparing to carry out the shooting by doing target practice in his backyard with a Springfield 9 mm handgun.

Moeller, he said, was on the forklift when he shot him, Wasnetsky told police. He said he shot Moeller in the chest from about five feet away. He said Moeller fell out of the machine and begged him for help as he struggled on the floor. Wasnetsky told investigators that he shot Moeller twice in the head “to end his suffering,” and that he’d planned on killing himself, but had backed out.

Police charged Wasnetsky with first- and third-degree murder. He was taken to the Lackawanna County Prison and is scheduled to have his preliminary hearing on June 30.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Moeller’s family with funeral costs. According to the account page, Moeller had also reported Wasnetsky to Lowe’s human resources for harassment.

“While working the job he was so proud of at Lowe’s in Pennsylvania, he was shot and killed by a coworker—a coworker he had reported multiple times to Human Resources due to ongoing concerns. To our knowledge, the individual had been making troubling comments directed at Jeffrey. Despite Jeffrey’s repeated reports, nothing was done,” the page said. “There was no altercation. No argument. Jeffrey was simply doing his job—the job he loved—and his life was stolen from him.”

Lowe’s said they were working with law enforcement as the incident is investigated.

"The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority, and we are deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence. We're working closely with law enforcement and encourage you to direct your questions to them as it's an active investigation," a Lowe's spokesperson said in a statement earlier this week.

It wasn’t the only co-worker attack this week.

In Lakeland, Fla., an Amazon Air associated facility worker was attacked by a coworker as he was leaving work.

Police said Tuesday night, they were called to the facility for reports of a battery. When officers got to the facility, they found the victim with visible injuries to his face and head, including trauma to his left eye. The victim was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital and was treated for his injuries. He underwent immediate surgery to avoid further damage to his left eye.

The victim identified his attacker as Chase Moorer, and said Moorer approached him in the parking lot and punched him in the face. After the initial blow knocked the victim to the ground, Moorer began to kick him in the head and face, the victim said.

After the attack, Moorer fled the scene. Video surveillance at the business supported the victim’s claims and he was able to identify Moorer as his attacker, and said he was one of the associates at the facility that he supervises.

Moorer was found and confessed to the assault. Police arrested him and took him to the Polk County Jail. A motive for the attack has not yet been released. 

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