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Disgruntled Ex-Engineer Suspected In Fla. Shooting

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Nov 6, 2009 10:15 am US/Mountain

Disgruntled Ex-Engineer Suspected In Fla. Shooting

Suspect Apprehended, Found At Mother's Home

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Jason Rodriguez, seen in this photo released by the Orlando Police Department, was being sought in connection with deadly shootings at an office building in downtown Orlando.
Orlando Police Department
Click to enlarge 2 of 2: The Gateway Center in Orlando, Fla., was the scene of multiple shootings Friday.
WKMG

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Police say a former employee accused of fatally shooting one person and wounding five others at an Orlando, Fla., engineering firm thought it had blocked his efforts to obtain unemployment benefits.

Authorities say suspect Jason Rodriguez opened fire in the offices of an engineering firm where he was let go more than two years ago, killing one person and injuring five others.

Rodriguez surrendered about three hours later, after officers saw him through the window of his mother's home and asked him to come outside.

Outside the police station, a reporter asked Rodriguez why he did it. Rodriguez replied: "Because they left me to rot."

Rodriguez recently worked at a Subway sandwich shop but told detectives he quit because he couldn't get enough hours. He said he filed for unemployment but an expected check didn't come and he blamed Reynolds, Smith and Hills.

Orlando Police Chief Val Demings says everyone who was shot was in the offices of Reynolds Smith and Hills, on the eighth floor. The five survivors are reported in stable condition.

A company spokesman says Rodriguez was an entry-level engineer who was fired in June 2007 after working there for a year.

"This is a tragedy, no doubt about it, especially on the heels of the tragedy in Fort Hood that is on our minds," Demings said. "I'm just glad we don't have any more fatalities or any more injuries than we currently have."

Charles W. Price, an attorney who represented Rodriguez in a bankruptcy case, declined to comment.

"His performance wasn't up to our standards, so we terminated him," Bernos said. There had been no contact between the company and Rodriguez since then.

After the lunchtime shooting, some people streamed out of the Legion Place building while others holed up in their offices. A major highway was closed and nearby schools were locked down.

Greg Cross, who works in a real estate office on the 12th floor, said he and his co-workers barricaded themselves inside after hearing about the gunman on television.

"We were terrified," he said. "We locked the door and put a filing cabinet in front of the door and just waited."

Mark Vella, who works in a different office on the same floor, said he and five co-workers also pulled a filing cabinet in front of their door. They prayed and talked about what to do if the gunman showed up.

"It was a little scary, a little unnerving," Vella said. "We were afraid the guy was still in the building and making the rounds."

Camille Previlon told The Associated Press her uncle, engineer Guy Lungenbel, was shot in the back and was able to talk but had not said much about the shooting.

"He is stable," she said. "He's just hurting real bad in the back."

The area of the shooting is over 15 miles from the tourist attractions in Orlando, including Disney World, reports CBS station WFOR-TV.

Rodriguez is believed to be the only shooter. Orlando Police started searching the area saying Rodriguez may have escaped in a silver 2002 Nissan Xterra. All of the shooting victims are reportedly in stable condition, according to the Orlando Fire Department.