New details released about Aurora workplace shooting as responding officers honored

AURORA, Ill. (FOX 32) - Just hours before his shooting rampage in Aurora, gunman Gary Martin told a co-worker, “If I get fired, I’m going to kill every m*********** here. I am going to blow police up.”

That’s just one of the new details in a report by Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon, which says Martin was being fired because he had failed to wear safety glasses the previous day.

The report says when Martin was called to a disciplinary hearing, he retrieved a gun from his work station and put on a hoodie. At the meeting, a supervisor told Martin, "it's over." Martin responded, "Yeah, it's over." 

He then began shooting and killed five of his co-workers. No one reported Martin's threat because Martin was always making "off the wall" statements.

"Frustrating is an understatement,” said Kristen Ziman, Aurora Police Chief. “I don't want to disparage anyone but that's the kind of thing that makes your spidey senses tingle."

The report was issued on the same day hundreds of Aurora residents saluted the cops who ran to the gunfire. More than 40 Aurora officers received commendations, including the "Fearless Five" who were shot and wounded. They spoke publicly about the attack for the first time.

"Our job at that point was, people are getting shot so we need to get into that building,” said Officer Ray Rivera of the Aurora Police Department.

"When the gunfire's going on you're using all of your senses,” said Lt. Rick Roberston of the Aurora Police Department. 

Officer Marco Gomez took a bullet in the parking lot, laying exposed for several minutes and trying to stay conscious.

"I had to see my family,” Officer Gomez said. “Whether it'd be one more time, you think of all the things you still want to do."

Officer John Cebulski is still on crutches, a bullet lodged in his knee. He says he'd do it again.

"People say I’m a hero, or we're heroes,” Officer Cebulski said. “No, I’m not. I'm just a police officer. Just a cop."