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At least 3 injured in workplace shooting at SmileDirectClub in Antioch, Tennessee

The gunman was identified as a 22-year-old SmileDirectClub employee who died at the hospital after he was shot by police officers, authorities said.
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At least three people were injured, including one critically, after a gunman opened fire at a Tennessee SmileDirectClub, authorities said Tuesday.

The suspected gunman, who authorities identified as 22-year-old Antonio D. King, walked into a SmileDirectClub factory in Antioch shortly before 6 a.m. and shot a manager and two security guards, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. King died after he was shot by police officers and taken to the hospital.

Security guard Johnny Hardin, 46, was in critical condition, and security guard Carlton Watson, 66, was stable as of Tuesday afternoon, according to police. It was unclear what their conditions were Wednesday afternoon.

The manager, Thomas Abbott, 54, was treated and released from the hospital, police said.

While authorities did not release a motive for the shooting, they said King was an employee who had at least two stints with SmileDirectClub. He also worked for the company from late 2019 to early 2020, according to police.

At least two people were injured in a shooting at a SmileDirectClub warehouse in Antioch, a district of Nashville on August 3, 2021.
At least two people were injured in a shooting at a SmileDirectClub warehouse in Antioch, a district of Nashville on August 3, 2021.Alexandria Adams / WSMV

SmileDirectClub told NBC News Tuesday that the company was working with police to investigate the shooting.

“SmileDirectClub is saddened at the incident that took place at its manufacturing facilities this morning. The incident was contained quickly by security personnel on site," the company said in a statement. "The safety of our team members is a top priority for our Company and we maintain strict security protocols."

SmileDirectClub is a teeth-straightening start-up company based in Nashville.