ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orange County, Fla., grand jury Tuesday
indicted the man authorities say killed one person and injured five others when
he walked into an Orlando consulting firm and opened fire earlier this month.
Jason Rodriguez, 40, was indicted on one count of
first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder.
He remains in the Orange County Jail without bond.
He’s accused of fatally shooting Otis Beckford, a
26-year-old draftsman and new father.
Others injured were Gregory Hornbeck, 39; Guy Lugenbeel, 62;
Edward Severino, 34; and Keyondra Harrison, 27. They all work for Reynolds,
Smith and Hills, an architectural-engineering firm.
Florida Department of Transportation worker Ferrell Hickson,
40, who was visiting the office at the time, also was shot. They have all been
released from local hospitals and are recovering.
Beckford’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday in West Palm
Beach.
The shooting occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Police said Rodriguez went into the eighth floor of the Gateway Center on
Orange Avenue. He allegedly fired several rounds before fleeing the building.
Police quickly arrived and began the search for the gunman.
Dispatchers received around 600 911 calls after the incident.
Rodriguez, who struggled with unemployment, erratic behavior
and financial woes, was arrested at the Orlando apartment where he lived with
his mother.
State Attorney Lawson Lamar said he will discuss with his
senior attorneys about whether the state will pursue the death penalty.
“We have to very carefully look at all the factors in
the case,” he said.
Via McClatchy-Tribune News Service.
