UPDATE; Ex-employee is charged for shootings at business in Lockwood

The Dade County prosecuting attorney filed charges on Monday evening against a former employee of a business in Lockwood where the owner and an employee were shot on Monday morning. Troopers say Caleb Eccher, 20, of Lockwood, shot his way into the building.

Eccher was in the Cedar County jail on Monday night. He faces charges of assault, attempted assault and armed criminal action. His bond is set at $500,000,

The business, Prairie Mountain Screening, is on the west side of town on 4th Street (U.S. 160). It employs 98 people.

The Highway Patrol believes Eccher fired at the westbound vehicle of Donald Hembree, 41, of Greenfield, who is a Prairie Mountain employee, about 7:30 a.m. The shots hit Hembree's vehicle just east of Lockwood but didn't hit Hembree.

Investigators say Eccher then followed Hembree to the business and shot his way inside, shattering glass on the front door. He wounded company owner Michael Galer Jr., 64, of Lockwood, and employee Krista Gerster, 28, of Lockwood. The shooter than fled to his home.

Troopers say both victims were taken to a hospital in Springfield with serious injuries, but their conditions were stable. A co-worker who visited them in the hospital on Monday afternoon thinks both of them will survive.

Officers were able to quickly arrest Eccher without any trouble at his home near 12th Street at Spruce in Lockwood. They combed through his property on Monday afternoon.

Neighbors say the young man had just been renting the house for a few months, but kept up the yard, went to work every day, and didn't cause any trouble.

Troopers say this was a targeted attack.

"This does not appear to be a random act," said Sgt. John Lueckenhoff, a spokesman for the Highway Patrol's Troop D. "This subject was actually terminated; his employment was terminated from this business, and it appears he came here with intent."

It's not clear how long ago the suspect lost his job at Prairie Mountain.

The shooting led to a lockdown at nearby Lockwood High School around 7:30 a.m., when the 15-member volleyball team was practicing.

"Volleyball practice was starting, and she got the kids inside. We locked down, went in lockdown procedures we use. It went smoothly. Some kids struggled a little, but we we able to take care of them. Our coaches did a nice job of keeping the kids as upbeat as they could in that situation," said Superintendent Bill Rogers.

The superintendent says they are, of course, concerned about all of those directly affected by this tragedy, especially the two hospitalized people.

Eccher attended Lockwood High School until about three years ago. He played football there, according to online archives of a high school football coverage site.