1 dead in shooting at Forvia plant near Detroit

A shooting Wednesday at an automotive supplier plant near Detroit left one man dead, according to police.

An argument among employees began Wednesday morning inside the Forvia plant in Highland Park, Mich., before spilling out into the gated parking lot where shots were fired, said Deputy Chief Darrell Patterson of the Highland Park Police Department.

A 40-year-old man was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead, Patterson said. A 29-year-old suspect was apprehended at the scene.

"It was some fight over tools and use of tools," Patterson said. "Several males got into a physical altercation. The fight was broken up by the security members, and those employees were sent home."

Forvia spokeswoman Misty Matthews said the plant was continuing to operate but some employees opted to go home after the shooting.

"Our priority is the safety of our team and supporting them in any way we can," Matthews said in a statement. "We are working closely with the local authorities as they conduct their investigation."

The company is laying off 268 employees at the plant as a result of moving its metals work to Mexico, Crain's Detroit Business reported Tuesday. Patterson said there appears to be no connection between the layoffs and the shooting. Crain's is an affiliate of Automotive News.

Highland Park police are investigating the incident.

Forvia, which changed its name earlier this year from Faurecia, has its North American base in Auburn Hills, Mich., in suburban Detroit. The Highland Park plant supplies seats for the Jeep Wagoneer program at Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which is part of Stellantis.