A disgruntled radio repairman for the city of Los Angeles systematically shot and killed four of his supervisors at the city's Piper Tech Center, sending scores of terrified employees fleeing for their lives, police say.
Using a Glock 9mm handgun, Willie Woods, 41, of Upland, allegedly opened fire Wednesday in the brick and concrete bunker-style building near Union Station that includes repair shops and the crime lab where evidence in the O.J. Simpson case was tested.Police said Woods, who faced disciplinary action over his job performance and attitude, specifically targeted the four victims - Anthony J. Gain Sr., 78, of Montebello, Neil Carpenter, 61, of Palmdale, James Walton, 60, of View Park and Marty Wakefield, 57, of Venice.
"He bypassed at least one person intentionally en route to find the other two," said Los Angeles police Lt. John Dunkin.
Woods told the supervisor he spared:"It's a good thing you've been nice to me the last couple of weeks, or I'd kill you," according to a police source.
Police said the shooting started in the basement, where Woods shot Carpenter and Walton. He then moved to the ground level, where he shot Wakefield and Gain.
Police said Woods showed up to work on time, and witnesses said his demeanor was calm. But he immediately got into an argument with one of his supervisors over a negative performance evaluation, Dunkin said.
Co-worker Bill Martin was sending a fax on the first floor about 10 to 12 feet away from Woods when he heard Wakefield shout, "What are you doing?" and then he saw Woods shoot Wakefield twice.
After the shooting, Martin ran toward a conference room, and as he did, a secretary grabbed his shirt.
"The secretary was completely hysterical. As I'm trying to run to get away, she's pulling on my shirt," he said.
Martin ran into a nearby conference room, slammed the door shut and hid under a table three to five minutes, then opened the door, peeking around corners before emerging.
Martin said that the recent problems over Woods' job performance left the man upset but said he didn't see any prospect of violence.
"It was over an evaluation he just didn't feel was quite done right," Martin said. "He thought he was just getting screwed by the system."
"I didn't think any violent thing would happen," Martin said.
Woods was taken into custody minutes after the shooting spree.