A Lockheed Martin employee at the company's Meridian, Miss., facility entered the plant today at approximately 10 a.m. Central Time with a gun and shot an unknown number of people before taking his own life. At least five of the victims are believed to be dead and a number of people are wounded. Lockheed Martin officials are working with local law enforcement officials who are on the scene. Names of the dead and wounded are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

We are shocked and saddened by this tragedy and express our deepest sympathies to the families. Additional details will be released as soon as they are available.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed Martin, is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50, C-5, C-130, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 125,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.

  Media Contact: Sam Grizzle, +1-678-662-9162 (cell), sam.c.grizzle@lmco.com
                 Jeff Rhodes, +1-770-494-3895, jeffrey.p.rhodes@lmco.com

For additional information on the corporation or the Aeronautics Company, visit our websites: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/ ; http://www.lmaeronautics.com/

SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company