ORLANDO -- The heads of the architecture and engineering firm where a former employee opened fire Friday spoke briefly with the press Monday morning at the College Park Baptist Church.
President and chief executive officer of Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Leerie Jenkins, and chief operating officer David Robertson praised the quick action of police in responding to the shooting and capturing Jason Rodriguez.
"We are saddened by the falling of our colleague, Otis Beckford," Jenkins said Monday.
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On Friday, police say Rodriguez, 40, walked onto the eighth floor of the Gateway Center and opened fire, killing Otis Beckford and injuring five others.
Orlando police chief Val Demings told reporters that the investigation is continuing and that first degree murder charges are just the beginning. She said they have recovered a gun and are doing tests to see if it is the murder weapon.
In addition to swift action by police, who could not wait for SWAT to arrive, Demings said they received over 600 phone calls into the police com center that helped them to catch Rodriguez 2 1/2 hours after the shooing took place. She said they believe the victims were not targeted.
The building is open for business again on Monday, but Reynolds, Smith and Hills doors will still be closed. Instead, workers are gathering at the church to meet with grief counselors.
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Investigators want to know what Rodriguez did during the 2 1/2 hours he was missing, and are asking for the public’s help in tracing his movements.
CrimeLine released a bulletin late Saturday containing surveillance photos of Rodriguez, plus photos of his car and license plate.
Police were still on scene this weekend collecting evidence, inside the engineering consulting firm where Rodriguez used to work.
Rodriguez remains locked up at the Orange County Jail. He was denied bond at his first court appearance Saturday.
His lawyer said Rodriguez is "very mentally ill," and he remains under suicide watch. He is alone in his cell, which does not contain any furniture.
Family Saw Signs
The family of Rodriguez’s ex-wife said they had no doubt he had troubles in his life.
News 13 spoke with Rodriguez’s former mother-in-law, who describes him as a man who could be charming -- as long as he was on his medication.
When he refused to take it, she said he became an angry and often violent man.
The woman who opened her home to Rodriguez for five years said if he is convicted, she does not think he should be put to death.
“No excuse, I will never excuse something like that, but I wonder if he was sick. Did he know what he was doing?” his former mother in law said.
Rodriguez’s ex-wife’s mother said she was especially concerned for her 8-year-old grandson, who watched some of Friday’s news reports. She told News 13 the boy wanted to know why his father “shot all those people.”
About The Victims
Six people were shot Friday at the office of Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc.
Otis Beckford, 26, was killed. Five others were wounded:
- Keyondra Harrison, 27
- Ferrell Hickson, 40
- Gregory Hornbeck, 39
- Guy Lugenbeel, 62
- Edward Severino, 34
Hickson was released from the hospital on Sunday.
Four of the surviving patients remain in stable condition at Orlando Regional Medical Center. Two underwent surgery Friday.
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