Joe Tesney

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --Three people are dead -- including the gunman -- after a shooting this morning at a UPS facility in Inglenook, according to Birmingham officials.

The incident happened just before 9:30 a.m. as police received multiple calls of an active shooter at 4601 Inglenook Lane, the customer service center and warehouse. "Patrol units responded quickly; they rallied and made entry,'' said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. "They were able to clear the building and, of course, during the shooting, multiple employees exited the facility."

Once the officers arrived and entered the building, they found three dead people inside the business. "It appears it was the shooter, still wearing his UPS uniform, and two other employees,'' the chief said.

Police officials have not publicly named the shooter, but law-enforcement sources, family and church members identified him as 45-year-old Joe Tesney. He is married, and the father of two daughters.

The gun used in the shootings was still underneath his body when police arrived on the scene.

Police this afternoon confirmed the shooter was fired from his job. "He received his final papers Monday,'' said police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards. "Today he was not expected to return to work because he was no longer employed there."

Tesney reportedly was fired within the past month and appealed the firing. He lost his appeal in recent days.

What led to his firing wasn't immediately available. Court records show an auto repair, design and testing shop, filed a lawsuit in November 2012 against Tesney and UPS in Jefferson County District Civil Court.

The lawsuit claims that on Nov. 5, 2010, Tesney came to the business to pick up packages. Along with the marked packages for shipment Tesney negligently, recklessly or intentionally took an unboxed custom one-of-a-kind radiator for a race truck that TSA Motorsports had shipped to HESCO for testing. The radiator was not marked or otherwise designated for shipment, the lawsuit claims. The radiator was valued at approximately $4,000.

The radiator was never returned or replaced by UPS or Tesney, the lawsuit states. Jefferson County District Judge Jack Lowther found in favor of Tesney and UPS after a bench trial on Sept. 10, 2013.

Tesney's mother-in-law, Wanda Binney, told AL.com today the family is shocked. "He was one of the best men I have ever known,'' she said. "He was a kind husband and a wonderful father."

Asked if anyone would predict this from Tesney, Binney said, "Anybody but Joe. He's never hurt anyone in his life."

"He was just a wonderful person and we're shocked,'' she said. She said the children have not been notified of their father's death.

Tesney was a member of Northpark Baptist Church in Trussville. The church released the following statement today to AL.com: "We are praying for the employees of UPS and the families of the victims of today's tragedy. Our hearts are grieved. We pray that the peace of our Lord would be near to those who have been devastated."

All three deceased were adult white males, and their names have not been publicly released. The two victims were supervisors at UPS, and police said they believe at least one was specifically targeted in the shooting. The other, sources tell AL.com, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

UPS shooting sceñe pic.twitter.com/bzgzGVLhZ5 — carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) September 23, 2014

It is believed the gunman shot himself.

Roper said no one else was injured. Police did not fire any shots, Roper said, nor did they hear any shots. "When the officers arrived in the parking lot and made entry, the incident in all respect was already over,'' he said.

Hundreds of police officers from Birmingham and Tarrant flocked to this morning's scene. Residents of nearby office buildings, and some family members of UPS workers, somberly gathered outside watching the incident unfold.

Roper said no one else inside was injured other than those who died. "We do have people who are extremely upset about what they saw today and what they witnessed,'' Roper said. "We want to make sure we support them."

They were taken by bus to Boutwell Auditorium, where police have blocked off the streets around there as counselors meet with employees.

Roper said the investigation will be methodical. "We'll be digging into the work history, into the background, also talking to family members and these other employees who may be able to shed some information on what happened today,'' he said. "We have a pretty good idea about what transpired inside the business.

"We want to make sure we get a good picture of what led up to today and what we can do in the future to prevent it,'' Roper said.

"It is extremely troubling for the city, for the families involved. When they came to work today, they had no idea it would be their last day alive on earth," he said. "They were just people working at their jobs."

As a precautionary measure, the campus of Springville elementary and middle schools were briefly placed on lock down because there is a connection between a person involved in the shooting and a child at the school, St. Clair County officials said. Authorities later confirmed there were family members at the schools when the shooting happened.

"It was just a precaution in case he was still at large," said Phillip Johnson, facilities manager for the county school system.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also on the scene at UPS. ATF officials said they are providing technical support, and any guns used in the shooting will be traced as well as submitted through NIBIN to determine if they had been used in any other shooting.

Birmingham police, ATF and St. Clair sheriff's deputies are on a secondary scene in an Argo-area subdivision where the alleged shooter lives. Lawmen have roped off the neighborhood and blocked entrance to the street.

Friends and family members of the alleged shooter gathered outside his home. Several people were taken from the scene by police, presumably for questioning.

"We are deeply saddened by today's events and offer our condolences to the families and employees impacted by today's tragedy. Chief Roper and the BPD have our full support as we investigate and get answers for all involved," said Mayor William Bell.

Gov. Robert Bentley also issued the following statement: "Dianne and I are saddened to learn about the deadly shooting at the UPS Center in Birmingham. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and co-workers of those who died this morning.

"I was briefed on the active shooter situation by the Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement just moments after it occurred. I commend the quick and efficient response of Birmingham Chief A.C. Roper and his staff at the Birmingham Police Department. Today's incident is a reminder of the importance of law enforcement training to respond to active shooters.

"State law enforcement resources are available and ready to assist if needed as investigators work to determine a cause in this deadly shooting."

AL.com staffers Joe Songer, Bill Thornton, Kent Faulk and Mike Smith contributed to this report.

Updated at 12 p.m. to include additional information from Police Chief A.C. Roper and about the alleged shooter.

Updated at 3:08 p.m. to include the name of the shooter and statements from family and his church.