Orlando, FL: Investigation continues into murder-suicide near UCF

By Henry Pierson Curtis and Bianca Prieto, Orlando Sentinel

1:05 PM EST, February 9, 2010


Orange County deputies continue the investigation into a murder-suicide outside of business near the University of Central Florida.

A man fired several shots at a woman before turning the gun on himself in the parking lot of the AT&T Wireless Call Center on Research Parkway Monday.

Published reports suggest that the suspect was the victim's ex-boyfriend. The victim may have sought a protective injunction against the man because he was stalking her, according to WFTV.com

The Orlando Sentinel has not confirmed the reports because the victim and suspect have not been publicly identified.

Batterers and stalkers are most dangerous when they are suicidal, said Carol Wick, the CEO of the local domestic violence shelter, Harbor House. Obtaining injunctions against stalkers is often hard to do without the proper documentation, she said.

"Once they've made up their mind to die, a piece of paper is not going to make a difference," said Wick, CEO of Harbor House. "When they become suicidal, that's when they are the most dangerous."

The incident began just after 1 p.m. when the woman, who works at the call center, was walking toward the building from an adjacent parking lot when she was confronted in the lot and shot, according to Cpl. Susan Soto of the Sheriff's Office.

The man shot the victim multiple times, Soto said. An earlier report from Orange County Fire Rescue said both victims had been shot in the head. Soto is not commenting on the location of the wounds.

The suspect died at the scene.

She was resuscitated by a worker at a nearby office who heard the shooting, went to the scene and found both the man and the woman in the parking lot. He performed CPR on the woman until paramedics arrived, according to another research park worker who did not want to be identified.

The woman was rushed to Florida Hospital East where she later died.

The woman's husband, who was not the shooter, also works at the building, according to the news Web site.

AT&T spokeswoman Gretchen Schultz said Monday that the building was put on lockdown after the shooting. Grief counselors responded to the office, and members of AT&T's security team assisted deputy sheriffs.

"We want to express our sadness for the victim, her family, friends and co-workers," the company said in a prepared statement Monday.

Sentinel Staff Writer Willoughby Mariano contributed to this report. Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at 407-420-5257 or hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com.

Copyright © 2010, Orlando Sentinel