Man arrested and charged in Tolleson Gatorade factory shooting: PD

TOLLESON, Ariz. – Tolleson police officials said they have arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with a shooting that occurred just outside the campus of a Gatorade factory in the West Valley city.

According to a press release issued on June 26, the incident occurred on the afternoon of June 25. Tolleson police were called to the area of ​​Van Buren Street and 107th Avenue around 4:25 p.m., just outside the fenced property, for reports of shots fired. .

“Numerous shotgun shell casings, small caliber handgun shell casings, and several live small caliber handgun shells were scattered on the ground at this gated entrance. A broken glass container was also found in an outdoor employee rest area, later identified as an improvised incendiary device,” investigators said. wrote.

The suspect, who police identified as Antwaine Lamar Woods, reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived.

“Responding officers spoke with witnesses who identified Mr. Woods as a disgruntled former Gatorade employee. It was learned that Mr. Woods told witnesses he was going to 'shoot up the place!' immediately prior to firing approximately 30 shotgun and handgun rounds into the west wall of the Gatorade building and infrastructure,” part of the release states.

Although no one was injured by the bullets or the incendiary device, police said cooling towers and building walls were damaged as a result of the shooting. The suspect was eventually tracked to Pioneer Park in Glendale.

“Undercover agents from the U.S. Marshals Task Force observed Mr. Woods fishing in the lake area and were quickly taken into custody without incident,” investigators wrote. “A search of Mr. Wood’s vehicle revealed four additional incendiary devices and the weapons believed to have been used in the shooting. Glendale PD EOD responded to the scene and checked the vehicle and incendiary devices to ensure they were safe to move.”

Woods, according to the release, was then interviewed by detectives, during which he claimed he was wrongfully terminated from the company in January 2024 and had issues with how he was treated by the company.

“Mr. Woods admitted to firing several rounds at the water filtration tanks outside the Gatorade manufacturing and distribution center, as well as throwing a Molotov cocktail toward the building. The incendiary device did not could not have ignited due to weather conditions,” detectives said. wrote. “Mr. Woods stated that he did not intend to harm anyone, he only wanted to prevent production at the plant to financially impact Gatorade. The defendant cited religious beliefs and Native American laws as the reason for his actions.”

Woods, detectives say, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail. He is accused of committing several criminal offenses, including discharging a firearm at a non-residential structure, illegally discharging a firearm within city limits, misconduct involving simulated explosive devices , endangerment and disorderly conduct.

Area where the shooting took place