Former employee shoots himself at car service center, police say
Investigators say man fired at manager of Northwest Austin business.
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By Tony Plohetski

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF


Thursday, October 11, 2007

A man whom investigators described as a disgruntled former employee walked into a Northwest Austin business this afternoon, demanded to see the manager and opened fire as the manager ran through a parking lot, authorities said.

The manager was not struck, Austin police spokesman James Mason said. Investigators say the man then apparently went into a wooded area behind a Lack's Furniture Center and shot himself in the head as police closed in.

The man was taken by STARFlight to Brackenridge Hospital in extremely critical condition, Mason said. Paramedics were performing CPR on him while en route to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mason said the incident began about 1:30 p.m. Other employees and at least one customer were in the Motorcars Ltd. service center on the south frontage of U.S. 183 North near Anderson Mill Road at the time. Mason said the manager and the former employee, whose name was not released, had a brief argument before the manager fled.

Mason said the 54-year-old suspect fired several rounds after the manager continued running. "He was able to duck away, or the suspect (gave up)," Mason said.

Investigators are interviewing several witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting. "We are very lucky" that no one else was seriously injured or killed, Mason said.


It was a wonder that the guy could not shoot strait. According to witnesses the gun man fire numerous rounds. The people on the seen could not find any damage from bullet strikes. Some reports say a berretta was used and some say a glock.

The manager btw was running down the frontage road of us183 with the gunman chasing and shooting.

Also the furniture store where the guy shot himself has an interesting history. Mid 1980's a man pulled his MG sportscar behind the store. He got out and shot 2 mags of handgun ammo into it and walked away. No one knows why he did it.