WKRN, Nashville, Tennessee News, Weather, and Sports |Suspect in Orlando shooting in custody

Suspect in Orlando shooting in custody

ORLANDO, Fla. - Authorities in Orlando, Florida have apprehended a gunman they believe killed one person and injured five others Friday at a downtown office building.

Orlando Police Chief Val Demings said 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez surrendered to police three hours after the lunchtime shooting at his mother's home.

Asked by a reporter outside the police station why he did it, he replied, "Because they left me to rot."

Police said Rodriguez is a former engineer at a firm in the office building on Legion Place and was let go two years ago, although investigators were unsure what his motive was.

"This is a tragedy no doubt about it, especially on the heels of the tragedy in Fort Hood that is on our minds," said Chief Demings. "I'm just glad we don't have any more fatalities or any more injuries than we currently have."

Everyone who was shot was in the offices of Reynolds Smith & Hill, on the eighth floor.

Demings said the five survivors were in stable condition.

Company spokesman Mike Bernos said Rodriguez was an entry-level engineer who was fired in June 2007 after working there for a year.

"His performance wasn't up to our standards, so we terminated him," Bernos told the Associated Press.

The 16-story building was placed on lockdown while police searched for Rodriguez and evacuated the building floor by floor.

As many as 50 paramedics responded to the scene and rows of ambulances could be seen lined along the building.

Interstate 4 was closed in both directions through downtown and nearby schools were placed on lockdown until the alleged gunman was caught.