Police: Fla. gunman thought company nixed benefit

Posted 11 9 2009 1:26AM

ORLANDO, Fla. – 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.

Police say Jason Rodriguez told detectives after Friday's shooting that his bosses at Reynolds, Smith and Hills had fired him two years ago for no good reason.

He recently worked at a Subway sandwich shop but told detectives 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.

Police say Rodriguez walked into the firm, pulled a gun and fatally shot an employee. He then opened fire on others, wounding them. He surrendered a short time later at his mother's house.

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Associated Press writers Travis Reed, Kelli Kennedy, Jennifer Kay, Laura Wides-Munoz, David Fischer and Damian Grass in Miami; Mitch Stacy and Tamara Lush in Orlando; and Christine Armario in Tampa contributed to this report.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — 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.

Police say Jason Rodriguez told detectives after Friday's shooting that his bosses at Reynolds, Smith and Hills had fired him two years ago for no good reason.

He 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.

Police say Rodriguez walked into the firm, pulled a gun and fatally shot an employee. He then opened fire on others, wounding them. He surrendered a short time later at his mother's house.

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Associated Press writers Travis Reed, Kelli Kennedy, Jennifer Kay, Laura Wides-Munoz, David Fischer and Damian Grass in Miami; Mitch Stacy and Tamara Lush in Orlando; and Christine Armario in Tampa contributed to this report.