A mentally ill man accused of shooting four co-workers at a factory after apparently being teased about his size will not face attempted murder charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Jason J. Burnam, 24, instead faces four counts of felony aggravated battery and a misdemeanor count of carrying a handgun without a permit stemming from Thursday's shootings at Crossroads Industrial Services.
"I don't think he attempted to kill these people," Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi said.
Burnam's mother, Judy Burnam, said her son had complained that some co-workers teased him about his size. She said he once tried to commit suicide because of taunting while in high school.
Burnam, who weighs more than 300 pounds, told officers he fired the shots over issues of "respect," police said.
His mother also said he suffered from bipolar disorder and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, but he was taking medication and seeing a counselor.
The four workers shot at the factory, which employs mostly disabled people, were recovering. None of the injuries was life-threatening.