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Motives behind Friday's killing at NASA are not yet known. |
CAIRO — Just few days after the bloodiest campus shooting in US history, a NASA engineer killed a hostage and later himself in the US space station, reported the Houston Chronicle on Saturday, April 21.
"We never believed this could happen to our family here," said Michael Coates, the director of the Johnson Space Center.
William A. Philips, a 60-year-old engineer, fatally shot co-worker David Beverly inside Building 44, a communications and engineering facility on Friday.
He later shot himself in the head inside the building.
A second hostage, Fran Crenshaw, another NASA contract worker, was found duct-taped to a chair inside the building.
"Apparently there was some type of dispute between Phillips and Beverly", said Houston Police Chief Howard Hurtt.
Police had tried to negotiate with Philips during the standoff but got no response.
All of a sudden, there were gunshots from inside the room.
When police rushed in the room, they found the two men dead and the woman bound at her hands and ankles.
Good Employee
Motives behind Friday's killing are not yet known.
Inside the room, the killer left a list of names and phone numbers and a scribbled note which was not immediately understandable.
"Right now we're trying to understand why this happened, how this happened," said Coats.
Coats said police are trying to confirm a report that Phillips, Crenshaw, Beverly and a fourth person went to lunch together.
There was apparently a dispute between Phillips and Beverly, but authorities did not know when the argument began.
Police searched Phillips' house but found nothing to indicate he had planned the killing.
Unmarried and with no children, Phillips was described by NASA officials as an ideal employee.
"Up until recently he has been a good employee," Coates said.
Neighbors also described Philips as friendly.
"There was nothing in his behavior, the way he acted or what he said that would give you any indication that he would snap like this," said Michael Russell.
"He was pretty much a loner. He was friendly, he'd wave at you, but I never saw anybody with him," added Kevin Rizer.
NASA officials said mission operations at the space station were not interrupted by the incident.
President George W. Bush was kept informed throughout the standoff, the White House said.
"The president was deeply saddened to hear about the loss of life and he will pray for the family members and co-workers, who surely must be shocked and grieving," White House spokesman Tony Fratto told AFP.
Friday's shooting happened while the nation was mourning the 32 people shot dead by a South Korean student who killed himself after his rampage at Virginia Tech University on Monday.
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