Omar Thornton: Conn. Shooter Told 911 He 'Handled the Problem'

Whether the racial discrimination issue was real or a figment of his imagination, Connecticut workplace shooter Omar Thornton truly felt that co-workers at the Hartford Distributors Inc., were out to get him based on the color of his skin.

Not only did Thornton tell relatives that racism drove him to kill eight people at the plant, but he also called 911 and left a haunting message with a dispatcher, saying, "This place is a racist place," and "I handled the problem."

"They're treating me bad over here and treat all other black employees bad over here, too. So I took it in to my own hands and handled the problem. I wish I could have got more of the people," Thornton, 34, said in the four-minute phone call.

Hartford Distributors President Ross Hollander struck back at the racism charges at his company, saying that claims of discrimination were never communicated through the company's anti-harassment policy, the labor union or government agencies.

For now, the news media can't get enough of the race angle behind one of the most deadly workplace massacres in a generation.

Minor racial themes, such as the interracial relationship between shooter Omar Thornton and his girlfriend Kristi Hannah (pictured above) to the central racial theme that workplace racism fueled Thornton's murderous rampage, have been the subject of constant speculation on talk radio and in the blogosphere since Tuesday's violence.

What a waste of breath and attention.

Not only does it diminish the sanctity of the lives lost, but it also justifies the shootings.

The focus of this story should be that Thornton, who is described by friends, family and co-workers as a mellow, easygoing young man, was a deeply troubled individual who needed psychological help.

Let's not lose sight that workplace racism can't justify bringing guns into an office and using them.

I know that lots of black folks (me included) have felt the sting of unequal treatment in the workplace. It comes in the form of suspicious glances from co-workers and supervisors, poor performance reviews that are undeserved, denial of pay increases or even unjustified dismissals.

But at the risk of belaboring the obvious, victims of persistent workplace racism need to get a sharp attorney and a plan -- not a gun.

Listen to the 911 call here: