November 6, 2009 Police: Fla. gunman thought company nixed benefit

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 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.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)