1 killed, at least 7 injured in Orlando shootings

[stevo]

1 killed, at least 7 injured in Orlando shootings

Suspect still on the loose in silver SUV; scene described as still unsecured

ORLANDO, Fla. - One person was killed and at least seven were critically wounded in a shooting inside a downtown Orlando high-rise building Friday morning, authorities said. The suspect was described as on the loose and extremely dangerous.

The shooting began about 11 a.m. ET in the eighth-floor offices of an architecture firm in the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place near Lake Ivanhoe.

All of the victims were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center.

Police and fire officials said that one person was dead and that seven were in critical condition with gunshot wounds. An eighth person, who was not shot, was in stable condition because of what authorities described as a “cardiac event.”

Police Sgt. Barbara Jones identified the suspect as Jason Rodriguez, 40, a former employee in the building who she said was believed to be at large and armed. Rodriguez was believed to be wearing a light-blue polo shirt and blue jeans and driving a silver 2002 Nissan sport-utility vehicle with Florida plates D119UX, authorities said.

Mike Bernos, a spokesman for the architecture company, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, told NBC News that Rodriguez worked for the company until June 2007, when he was terminated for what he said was a “performance issue.”

About 50 employees work in the offices of the company, which specializes in school buildings.

Michael Droege, district chief for the Orlando Fire Department, told WESH that an unknown number of people were still in the building and could be injured. He said the SWAT team was still trying to pull people out of the building.

Some occupants were reported to have barricaded themselves in an office for protection.

SWAT officers were going floor by floor to secure the building, officials said.

Gateway Center is a 16-story office building that was built in 1999.

Interstate 4 eastbound was shut down while police converged on the area. Nearby Edgewater High School and Lake Highland Prep School were locked down.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist canceled the remaining events on his schedule and was headed to Orlando, according to his office.

1 killed, at least 7 hurt in Orlando shootings - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

[howid]

Mike Bernos, a spokesman for the architecture company, Reynolds, Smith and Hills, told NBC News that Rodriguez worked for the company until June 2007, when he was terminated for what he said was a “performance issue.”

wow must've been planning this for some time and possibly spurred by yesterday's headlines

[stevo]

Can't remember back to back stuff like this.

[Uncle B]

Update on wounded - Orlando shooting

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Authorities in Orlando say a debt-ridden man who believed his former employer was interfering with his unemployment benefits is to blame for a workplace shooting today in Orlando. One person was killed and five wounded. Jason Rodriguez was fired by the engineering firm two years ago.

unemployment benefit issues?

dude just lost that free ride....friggin dumbass...