Transit Empolyee Shoots Co-Workers, Killing One

[Willowdared]

2 killed in shooting at San Diego transit facility
By Debbi Baker (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer, Karen Kucher (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer

Originally published 6:12 a.m. March 24, 2009, updated 11:37 a.m., March 24, 2009

A 29-year veteran transit employee was killed by police Tuesday morning after he shot two co-workers at the San Diego Transit bus facility in East Village, killing one and critically injuring the second, authorities said.

The shooting was reported at 2:15 a.m. at the facility on 16th Street near Imperial Avenue. Police said a motive for the shooting was not known.

The shooter, 47, was a fare-box mechanic. He started work Monday at 6 p.m. and his shift ended at 2 a.m., a transit spokesman said.

San Diego police Capt. Jim Collins said the man walked into a lounge area carrying a gun and told those inside, “Nobody's going to leave.”

After talking with people inside the facility, the man went outside and witnesses heard two shots and saw a victim on the ground, Collins said. That man, a 37-year-old transit foreman, died before being taken to a hospital.

Employees started to run outside the office and they heard more shots being fired, Collins said. Officers found a second man in an office near the service bays, police said.

He was taken to a hospital, where he was placed on life support. He is a 55-year-old mechanic and has worked for the transit system for 31 years, said transit spokesman Rob Schupp. Arriving officers found the gunman in the parking lot. The man still had the gun in his hand and officers told him to drop the weapon, Collins said.

The man made a phone call on his cell phone and then raised his gun toward the officers, Collins said. Three officers opened fire, fatally wounding the man, he said.

There were between eight and 10 employees working at the time of the shooting at the Imperial Avenue bus facility. Counselors have been called in to talk with employees, Schupp said.

“It won't be work as normal today,” Schupp said. “We'll defer work at Imperial Avenue and Kearny Mesa divisions to accommodate the needs of our employees.”

San Diego Trolley and bus service to the public was not significantly disrupted, Schupp said. Some buses were delayed early in the morning, but service was back to normal within a few hours.

One of the officers involved in the shooting has been on the force 14 years. The others have one and two years of service.

All three will be placed on administrative duty until it is determined that they can return to the field, said homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney.

The names of the victims and the shooter have not yet been released.

A memo released by the transit system's human resources manager, Brendan R. Shannon, told employees about the shooting.

“Because family members of the dead and injured are still being informed we cannot release names or other details at this time. If you are aware of the names of the employees who are involved or details of the event, do not share them with anyone besides the police and grief counselors,” the letter said.

[irishmick]

Hmmm...apparently disgruntled employees aren't exclusive to our postal services anymore.

Here's hoping the officers involved get to get back to the job asap.

[CTR man]

Another Suicide by Cop? It seems.