ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) —
Police in Orlando say a gunman has been apprehended after killing one
person and injuring five others at a downtown office building where he
was let go two years ago.
Police Chief Val Demings says
40-year-old Jason Rodriguez surrendered to police at his mother's home
after officers saw him through a window and asked him to come out.
She confirms that one person was killed in the shooting at the Legion Place office building downtown. Five others were hurt.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
ORLANDO,
Fla. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Friday in the offices of an
engineering firm where he was let go more than two years ago. At least
six people were hurt and police were searching for a gunman in a sport
utility vehicle.
People streamed out of the 16-story Legion Place
office building around lunchtime and some told local television
stations they had barricaded themselves inside their offices.
Orlando
Fire Department District Chief Michael Droege said an unknown number of
people were still in the building and could be injured. He said the
SWAT team was trying to pull people out.
"The building is not secure now," he said. "It's still unfolding."
Orlando
police spokeswoman Barbara Jones identified the gunman as Jason
Rodriguez, 40, and said he might be in a 2002 silver Nissan SUV with
license plate D119UX. She said he used to work at the building but did
not say where or when he left.
"I would consider him armed and
dangerous," Jones said. She said at least five people were taken to a
hospital and another had chest pains but did not go to the hospital.
Orlando Regional Medical Center said four people were being treated in
the emergency department.
She confirmed witnesses told police the
shooting started at Reynolds Smith & Hill, a transportation
engineering consulting firm in the building.
Company spokesman Mike Bernof told CNN all the people shot were in the firm's office. He could not say if any died.
Rodriguez,
an engineer, was released in June 2007 for performance issues, Bernof
said. He could not say why. The firm performs transportation
engineering work with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Gerry
Gilgo, who works on the floor where the shooting occurred, told The
Associated Press she was meeting a co-worker at the elevators for lunch.
"She yelled, 'There are gunshots! There are gunshots! Get back in your office,'" Gilgo said.
Will
Halpern, an attorney works on the building's 17th floor, was among the
last group to be evacuated. He said the lobby was filled with about 20
officers in SWAT gear, carrying assault weapons, ready to search.
Interstate 4 was closed in both directions through downtown and nearby schools were locked down.
Rows
of ambulances lined up outside the building as police snipers took up
positions around the building and officers on foot and horseback
searched the area.