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Alleged Fla. office shooter deeply in debt

ORLANDO, Fla. (UPI) -- The suspect in the Orlando, Fla., office high-rise shooting that left one person dead and five wounded had filed for bankruptcy, records show.

Jason Rodriguez, 40, who police said was arrested Friday at his mother's apartment a few hours after the gunfire at the Legions Place building, had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May, CNN reported Friday.

He had listed assets of $4,675 and liabilities of $89,873 in the filing. His 2002 Nissan accounted for all but $675 of his assets.

Rodriguez had been let go by Reynolds, Smith and Hills architectural and engineering firm, located in the building, because of performance issues in June 2007.

As he was being escorted into a police station, reporters asked Rodriguez why he had opened fire.

"Because they left me to rot," he said.

Later police said he had apologized while being taken into custody, saying: "I'm just going through a tough time right now. I'm sorry."

Witnesses at the apartment complex where his mother lives said Rodriguez surrendered peaceably, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

"I really wish I knew his motive," Orlando Police Chief Val Demings said.

The victims were taken to several Orlando-area hospitals.

Rodriguez listed his monthly income as a "sandwich artist" at an Orlando Subway restaurant, where he had worked nine months, as $890.67; his monthly expenses, $815.

CNN said a Subway spokesman confirmed Rodriguez had worked for the company but left six weeks ago.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 11/07/2009

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