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Shooter on Loose in Orlando Office Shooting
Aired November 06, 2009 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. We start with breaking news, actually, here on this Friday afternoon. We've got a lot to get to, but we want to start in Orlando, Florida, where shots reportedly fired at this downtown high-rise office building.
We're also hearing reports that there are multiple victims now, at least eight. And that the shooter is not in custody. That shooter still on the loose. Police and SWAT teams have deployed around the Legions Place office building. You're looking at a live picture right now via our affiliate, WKMG. It's been locked down for a floor-by- floor evacuation, we're told. We're keeping a close eye on this story over the next two hours.
OK. We're -- as we continue this live coverage here, you can see from our affiliate WKMG, we're switching, actually, from various affiliates and helicopter shots of the high-rise building where this shooting has taken place. As you can see, police and ambulance, first responders, I'm told, possibly up to, it looks like, six ambulances, dozens of police responding and fire engines there on the scene. This live -- shot coming to us from our other affiliate, WESH, so we're able to bring you a number of -- or another -- a number of perspectives, rather, from our various affiliates there in the Orlando area.
All-platform journalist John Couwels has been with us first when this went down -- or I guess it was about 15 minutes or 20 minutes ago, John, when we got word of this? We're able to confirm and take to the air. Can you bring us up to date on any information that I might have missed thus far?
JOHN COUWELS, CNN ALL-PLATFORM JOURNALIST (via telephone): We did learn that the assistant police chief for Orange County had spoken to reporters outside the surrounded area and had told reporters that eight people had been transported, several of them in critical alert situation. We don't know the ultimate condition of them.
But also that he mentioned that the suspect has not been -- the gunman has been not been found. They can't verify whether it was one or two or if there was more than one, I should say, and that some of the suspects -- or the people who were shot were found on multiple floors. That was the first time we had heard that information, as he was talking to the media.
And the area that they were still in the process of evacuating the building and the surrounding buildings in the area, and that was still under way. PHILLIPS: All right. So, the first reports, John, were that there was one shooter, and it happened on the fourth floor. And so are you saying that possibly now authorities believe there may have been more shooters in this building, firing off at the same time on separate floors?
COUWELS: Well, not necessarily there were more shooters, but that he couldn't verify that there was only one, you know. It was still -- since it was still -- hadn't found the shooter at all and the fact that he made the comment that there were -- there were victims on different floors.
PHILLIPS: OK.
COUWELS: That was the first time we had heard beyond just the fourth floor where there were victims, but then the question was are there more than one, you know, gunman, and he says, well, we don't know for sure exactly how many there are.
PHILLIPS: All right, now for those specifically in the area, that live in this area, and they're looking at these live pictures, we've actually got two live pictures -- oh, OK, right now it's tape, I apologize. From our affiliates WESH-TV in Orlando and also WFTV.
And, John, as we're looking at the videotape of the scene, can you tell us, kind of give us an idea for the area, for those that live in thee area, have the freeways been shut down? Is this entire area been shut down? Because earlier you could still see cars moving slowly on the highway, but with a gunman, or possibly more, on the loose, I'm assuming this area should be more secure now?
COUWELS: Yes, what we had learned was that initially one side of Interstate 4 was shut down in the eastbound direction, and now the westbound direction has also been shut down.
The building and the complex, the Gateway, is next to Route 4 (ph), and it is more of an isolated complex away from the part of -- the main part of downtown. And the area is -- the Gateway office building, the massive parking garage, and also the Sheraton Hotel share the same complex next to each other. There are some additional buildings across the street that they would easily be able to be isolated away from everything else in that particular area, because the surrounding area is next to a lake, the interstate, and also a -- pieces of land that have been in the process of redevelopment.
PHILLIPS: Got it. OK, John Couwels, our all-platform journalist. Stay with me on the line, please, if you don't mind.
If you're just tuning in, you are now looking at the live newscast from WESH-TV, one of our affiliates there in Orlando, covering this shooting. At least eight people shot inside a downtown Orlando high-rise this morning at the Gateway Center at 1000 Legions Place. It happened at about 11:30 a.m. We're going to go ahead and listen in to their live newscast to see if we can get any more details.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The evil eye I call it...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I talked to the...
GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN, WESH CORRESPONDENT: Multiple, multiple fire units, multiple rescue out there working on him. We're told by authorities that basically many of those are serious trauma patients. We cannot confirm any deaths at this time. Sergeant Barb Jones of the Orlando Police Department said she will not do that.
We are told that one of them that have a heart situation, and, of course, more information is unfolding. And as we can get that and collect that in accurate form, we're going to pass it on to you. Because there's so much going on that they want to collect. I'm Gail Paschall-Brown, live in Orlando. Back to you.
SYAN RHODES, WESH-TV ANCHOR: And Gail, something I want to share with you, as well as our viewers, is that we're hearing from Orange County Sheriff spokesman Jim Solomons that he has said that authorities there looking for a man wearing a light blue polo shirt and jeans.
So, we're hearing, again -- this is from Orange County -- Orlando police is the -- the agency that's working this, but, of course, a lot of agencies working on this together now. And we're hearing from Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Solomons that, in fact, the suspect, or the person they're looking for is male and is, in fact, wearing a light blue polo shirt with jeans, and they're assuming this person is still armed. No word on his whereabouts.
The SWAT team on the scene, as Gail told us, going through the building, clearing floor by floor. We're seeing live pictures from Chopper 2 now, of more people running across the street away from the Gateway Center.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At this point, I-4 is shut down, both eastbound and westbound closed. It is an eerie sight to see here at the height of the lunch rush, I-4 just completely empty.
Police are setting up a perimeter. There are offers -- officers with rifles, and they are blocking off the streets of downtown Orlando. They have begun searches, trying to figure out where this shooter might be to determine if that shooter could still be in that building or surrounding buildings or other areas.
At this point the SWAT team, we're told, is going into the building in the 1000 block of Legions Place, the Gateway Center, where this shooting took place, and they are trying to clear floor by floor.
At this point we heard from the -- Sergeant Bob -- Barb Jones, I should say, Barb Jones, sergeant from OPD. She said that most of the initial building, that Gateway Center, has been cleared, and they are still working on building that perimeter, trying to figure out where this shooter is.
A shooter still on the loose after this shooting this morning. About 11 a.m. is when police got the call of shots fired in this building.
RHODES: Want to go back to Bob Kealing live in the NEWSROOM. He's been working his sources, working the phones for us.
Bob, what have you learned?
BOB KEALING, WESH-TV CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Syan, I can tell you that I did just confirm with the sheriff's spokesman. He said, according to their dispatch, the only thing that they really have in terms of a description is exactly what you said, in terms of just looking for a male. Didn't talk about nationally or age or anything else; light blue polo shirt with jeans, just to confirm that.
Another harrowing account that we just read online in "The Orlando Sentinel" was they heard from an employee who was actually inside the center, as all of this was going on. And this person said that, basically, "We have everyone in one office, and we have barricaded ourselves, 20 of us, inside this office with a chest of drawers." This person said, "We're scared. We're safe right now, but we're scared."
And that just gives you a sense of what that must have been like for people in this building to hear these shots going off and feeling like they felt it was necessary to protect their own safety by going to the extreme measure of actually barricading the door with a chest of drawers.
And, of course, you heard the police department talking about the fact that they're literally going floor by floor to clear it. The shooter, still at large. So, clearly, from inside that building, it has been a harrowing day, as people heard those shots going off. Again, a person saying that 20 people barricaded in one office, safe, but scared.
Let's go back to you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Bob.
And one of the things that we keep hearing from the witnesses on the scene -- Gail Paschall-Brown spoke to a witness. She said he, a former employee, came in, starting firing shots. A person that this witness tails Gail Paschall-Brown hasn't worked for the company in about a year.
You can see people around this scene just visibly shaken. Very, very confusing time and also a very scary ordeal, where they have witnessed a shooting right before their eyes. This woman also speaking to our reporters live at the scene just moments ago and saying she was going to walk out of her office to go to lunch. She said she was told there had been gunshots fired. They could smell something that smelled like gunpowder. She rushed back into her office to try and find safety, find shelter, as Bob said.
I mean, what an amazing story, that group of employees just barricading themselves into an office to stay safe, to stay away from wherever this gunman might be. And that's the big concern right now, a shooter still on the loose. Orlando police, along with other authorities, working to try and track down this shooter and to clear this building and make sure that everyone is accounted for.
At this point we...
PHILLIPS: I'll tell you what, it's been a tough two days. First the shooting at Fort Hood yesterday, and now, about 11:30, Florida time, we got word, a shooting here in Orlando, Florida.
Live pictures coming to us via our affiliate WESH. You can see the SWAT team there arriving at the scene.
This is what we know: at least eight people shot inside a downtown Orlando high-rise. The name of that high-rise, the Gateway Center, at 1000 Legion Place. That building, for those of you that know Orlando, live in the area, is near Lake Ivanhoe.
This is the word that we got, actually, from the Orlando Fire Department, that the shooting was reported around 11:30 a.m. Multiple victims were reported being seen on the fourth floor, but that has now expanded. Apparently, we hear there are victims on multiple floors now.
Dozens of ambulances, police, fire -- you saw the SWAT team there -- set up a perimeter around this area. And here's the catch. The shooter, authorities believe, still on the loose right now. All we know, according to Orange County Sheriff's Department, via our affiliate WESH, that we were listening to a minute ago. And, by the way, this is another live picture from our affiliate -- tape that's coming in from our other affiliate, WFTV.
You can see multiple SWAT teams now arriving from police and sheriff's departments there is the Orlando, Florida, area, taking part in -- has not been deemed a safe perimeter yet.
They have closed down I-4, both eastbound and westbound. Still looking for the shooter in this case. They believe they are looking for one man right now, described as wearing a light blue polo shirt and jeans. That's all we've been able to get via our affiliates here that are covering this story live in Orlando, Florida.
But we've got our John Couwels, one of our all-platform journalists. He's there in Orlando. He's been also tracking this story for us since it began.
John, can you bring us up to date on anything to add to what we have heard from our affiliate WESH, the live newscast that we dipped into there for a moment, and also the information I've been able to bring our viewers through various wire reports that are coming in to CNN?
COUWELS: Hi, Kyra. Yes, I just arrived on the scene. I'm a block from the building, right next to Lake Ivanhoe. You can see the police are circling the building with -- they've completely cordoned off the area. There's a sheriff's helicopters circling the building. I-4 has been completely shut down. And we're still learning whether the building was -- has been cleared. As they continue to search through the building. I haven't heard definitively whether the Sheraton next door to it, if that was evacuated or if it has been completely evacuated as they continue to search the area around it. And this entire area has been completely locked down.
It didn't interrupt the downtown area, because this is an isolated complex, away from the main part of the city. But the fact that I-4, as the local reporters and the local stations talked about, what an eerie sight to see, a major interstate, you can only imagine the amount of traffic backed up, since this is the major thoroughfare in central Florida from the east to the west coast.
PHILLIPS: So, John, what can you tell us about the Gateway Center, this Orlando high-rise? Is it just a living facility? Does it have business offices in there? What do you know about Gateway Center?
COUWELS: The Gateway Center is an office complex that shares the same parking facility with the Sheraton Hotel. They're two twin towers. And it's an isolated area that is adjacent to the very tip of what would be considered the downtown area, the end of downtown.
It's divided with new developments and complexes and new suites and condos in the area. It's a redevelopment area that has been changed and switched around. And it's also adjacent to College Park, a residential area, next to it. It is completely separated from most things, so it will be an area that would be simply and easily locked down to be able to isolate it from the rest of the city.
PHILLIPS: It also seems like a pretty easy -- there's a lot of easy access for a shooter to get out of there, as well, possibly -- if there is this one shooter that police are describing as a man wearing a light blue polo shirt and jeans. Don't know his mode of transportation, if he's on foot, if he was in a vehicle, but he'd be able to jump on the freeway.
Also, I noticed the waterway close to there, as well, John, and I got a little bit of a shot of seeing some boats in the water. I don't know if the police or the sheriff's department have launched their water assets out there to see if -- possibly if there's anything suspicious in that area, as well, with regard to this hunt for this shooter.
COUWELS: It would be very unlikely to access through the water itself, because it is a closed canal. And it is adjacent to a -- to the College Park area. It only surrounds -- it goes under I-4 next to the complex itself.
But I do see a gentleman in his boat right now. There's three of them who are fishing in the area, pulling up to, you know, investigate what's happening in the area. But there are no boats with the law enforcement searching the area, since it is a very closed and isolated lake itself, which are like thousands of them here in the central Florida area. PHILLIPS: All right, and, John, stay with me. As we're watching live pictures here -- or actually, this is tape, rather, from WFTV, one of our affiliates. We've got two affiliates providing pictures for us right now, WESH and WFTV. You can see the SWAT teams there on the scene.
If you're just tuning in, at least eight people shot inside a downtown Orlando high-rise. You heard our John Couwels. it's an office complex right next to the Sheraton there off of I-4, basically twin towers kind of off the edge of the main area there of Orlando, kind of in an area by itself. Not far from a residential area. You can see it's on lockdown now with various police and sheriff's -- you can see sheriff's deputies' cars, as well.
But this coming in to us now. And, John, this will probably help you, as well. Both WKMG and WFTV coming forward saying two dead in this downtown shooting, and six injured. The Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation has confirmed two -- both of these affiliates that two people are dead and six have been injured in this shooting in this downtown Orlando sky-rise.
Apparently, the shooter still at large. It says the shooter is -- oh, here we -- actually, MBI saying that the shooter is still in the Gateway Center office building.
Orange County spokesperson coming forward also, saying police searching for an armed man wearing a light blue polo shirt, in jeans, possibly still inside the building.
Are you -- did you get that word, as well, John, that he was still inside the building? I know the SWAT teams are trying to clear the building as we speak. Have you been able to confirm that, whether the shooter is inside that building or possibly was seen leaving the building?
COUWELS: From the angle -- the vantage point that I have right here, I could not confirm. I'm in an isolated area on the northwest side of the building, but the staging area for the police is on the -- on the other side of it. And I haven't been able to confirm that yet.
PHILLIPS: All right.
I'm also getting some more information here. Bear with me, John. That apparently, as people are still streaming out of the building there -- and we're talking about the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place there next to the Sheraton in Orlando -- that apparently, there are still some people inside that building that have barricaded themselves inside their office.
John, you mentioned to us, this is an office complex that shares the same parking lot as the Sheraton Hotel. Basically two twin towers there right off I-4 in Orlando.
So, police still searching for a gunman that we are being told may still be inside that building. Our affiliates WFTV and WKMG reporting two dead right now in that shooting and six injured. Still looking for that shooter. Possibly inside that building. People still coming out of the building. Some barricaded themselves inside their offices.
We're also getting word from Orlando police that they believe there is only one shooter.
I-4 will continually -- or will continue to be shut down, closed in both directions, through downtown. Also we're being told that the nearby school is locked down.
Do you know, by chance, what that school is, John, that's close to this scene?
COUWELS: I'm not 100 -- it could be either -- no, I don't know. From this angle, I'm not really sure. There's a church right across, the Central Christian Church where I'm set up in the parking lot. But there is also -- not far from it there's a senior center that's a block or two away. But other -- I'm not sure of the school itself.
PHILLIPS: That the school is shut down. Possibly a senior center in the area that John just mentioned with us, and police still searching for the shooter they believe may still be inside this building, the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place.
Just to bring you up to date, if you're just tuning in, this is the latest that we have. About 11:30, Florida time, this building that you're seeing right here, the Gateway Center and office complex, which is near Lake Ivanhoe, if you know that area. A call was received that there was a shooter that opened fire. We thought, possibly, it was just on one floor. Now we get reports that there are victims on multiple floors.
And our affiliates, WKMG and WFTV, reporting that there are two dead now in that downtown shooting and six injured. Police still looking for that shooter.
Hopefully soon, John, too, we can get somebody on the line from one of the various departments that is following this breaking news for us, possibly the fire department, the police department. There are many agencies on the scene now there in Orlando, Florida, as police are continually looking for this shooter. One shooter, they believe.
OK, let's go ahead and bring folks up to date, John. When did you actually get word of this shooting? Can you tell us where you are, what you can see, and what you know to this point?
COUWELS: I am -- the first call came in at approximately 12:15, 12:20 when we first heard of the shooting, during the lunch-break hour. I am right now on, about, one block from it on the west side of I-4, standing next to Lake Ivanhoe in the church parking lot, along with other -- our local affiliate, WFTV.
And right now you can see as the Orange County sheriff's helicopter is continually circling the gateway complex, monitoring the area around it. Police with the different agencies. There are fire engines with the fire department standing by the general area offsite, not on the exact complex, and the police have completely shut down the area from I-4 in both directions, Colonial Drive, a major east/west thoroughfare through Orlando, the -- Orange Avenue, which runs adjacent to it, and also all the surrounding complexes throughout College Park as they continue to search the -- the area for the suspect.
PHILLIPS: All right, John Couwels, our all-platform journalist there in Orlando for us.
We're going to take a quick break, but if you're just tuning in, you're following -- you're actually following breaking news with us here. Two days in a row now, it looks like, we've got fatal shootings. You know what happened yesterday at Fort Hood with the shooting spree that happened there. Now today, getting reports, at least eight people shot, two people reported dead. Six still injured. One lone gunman, authorities are still looking for in Orlando.
We'll keep you up to date. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. We continue to follow the breaking news out of Orlando, Florida. This is what we can tell you so far. A gunman opening fire on this high-rise in Orlando, Florida, the Gateway Center, at 1000 Legion Place. It happened about 11:30, Florida time.
Our affiliates there in Orlando reporting two dead now, six injured, and police still looking for the gunman. SWAT teams on the scene. They believe that that gunman could still be inside the Gateway Center, an office complex.
People, we're being told, they're barrigated (sic) -- barricaded, rather, inside their offices.
So, what happens from this point? What exactly is the SWAT team strategizing, looking to do? Of course, number one, to find that gunman and to safely bring him out of that building without any more lives being taken.
Howard Robertson, former SWAT commander with the New Orleans Police Department, on the phone with me now. Also has been following the breaking news out of Orlando, Florida.
Howard, if you don't mind, just as a former SWAT commander, you're called to a scene like this. The coordination process is pretty -- is a pretty delicate dance, isn't it?
HOWARD ROBERTSON, FORMER SWAT COMMANDER (via phone): It is, Kyra. And, you know, the two main things they're worried about. Naturally the people that are injured, to get them out safely.
And the most dangerous thing is that, if the gunman puts his gun down, takes off his shirt, he just has a T-shirt or something on, he can actually walk out of the area like one of the potential people there you're trying to evacuate. So, they have to be really careful and slow about how they evacuate the area.
PHILLIPS: And apparently, Howard, we're getting a picture of the suspect...
ROBERTSON: Did I lose you?
PHILLIPS: No, no, no, you're still with me. You're still with me. Stay with me, Howard. Can you hear me OK? Howard, can you hear me all right?
All right, we still -- Howard, do we have communication?
All right. We're going to try and get Howard Robertson back on the line. While we're doing that, let's go ahead and listen in WESH, our affiliate, because we're just now getting a picture of the man police say they are looking at, the alleged shooter. Let's listen in.
KEALING: ... identified by OPD as the suspect in this mass shooting in downtown Orlando. Once again Jason Rodriguez, just being identified by OPD as the shooter downtown today.
Back to you.
RHODES: All right, Bob, thanks.
And we want to give out the information in terms of the car, the vehicle, and also the plate number that we got from Barb Jones of OPD. A Florida 2002 Nissan SUV. I believe it was silver in color, and the Florida tag number D1119UX.
That is the car they believe he might be in, a silver Nissan SUV. You're looking live at the picture of Jason Rodriguez that we just got in. Again, he was described as wearing -- last seen wearing, anyway, a light blue polo and blue jeans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And of course, we're going to be following this story as police continue searching for this man they say is the suspect, this 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez, in a shooting that took place about 11:00 today. Orlando Police Department called about shots fired, this at the 1000 of Legions Place, which is in downtown Orlando, the Gateway Center, a building there on the right of your screen. You see it there, that orange-colored building.
At this point, I-4 completely shut down east- and westbound as police are now in what we heard as an active shooter operation. They are searching actively for this man, Jason Rodriguez, this 40-year-old man. And high above the scene, Chopper Dan. Dan, what have you seen as things have really changed and the operation has developed here in the last hour?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Jason (ph), right now, we've been looking at the scene from the air. We've been on scene for over an hour now, and as Tom (ph) zooms in, you can see two of the SWAT armored vehicles. The front side of the building, we actually saw these...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dan, we've got to go to Barb Jones. She's giving us an update.
SERGEANT BARBARA JONES, ORLANDO POLICE DEPARTMENT: ... first of all, that he's not in the immediate area, then we're going to go ahead and release some of the perimeter. But right now we're not releasing anything until we're comfortable that our public is safe. What I can tell you is, it's a good picture. It's a recent picture, and that's the person that we're looking for.
The motive for the shooting, I do not know. I can confirm that he was a former employee at the business is what we've been told, but information is coming in, and it's fluid, and it's changing, so...
QUESTION: Do you know which business at all right now?
JONES: I don't have the name of the business. I do know it's at 1000 Legions Place. I can tell you that there's multiple victims. I don't want to say if anybody's deceased. I'm just going to say that right now, several people were treated, some taken to the hospital. And it's an ongoing, fluid situation.
QUESTION: Sergeant, can you tell us, there was an indication that the Salvation Army had to be evacuated on (INAUDIBLE)?
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... going on right now inside the building? We've been seeing people going...
JONES: Yes, we've got our SWAT team out here, so we're continuing to clear buildings. We responded to an incident that started out as a shooting. And then it turned into what we consider an active shooter. That means it's gunshots are still being heard, which means that our focus is for that shooting sound, and we're going to mobilize those units to go towards that target to stop that threat.
Now, we have not located that suspect yet. So, if he's seeing the news and he sees himself on the news, it would be in his best interests to turn himself in and to surrender to law enforcement.
QUESTION: All right, thank you so much, Sergeant.
QUESTION: All right, can you tell us, first of all, how recently did he work there, do you know, Sergeant?
JONES: I don't know those details, Greg (ph), and I just gave a briefing to everybody.
QUESTION: OK. I understand that, but...
JONES: Right. I'm going to go back.
QUESTION: ... I'm not sure that they're not rolling back there right now. Let me ask you this. They spotted him over at Colonial, the Salvation Army...
JONES: I don't know that they've spotted anyone anywhere. I'm not going to confirm that we've spotted anybody. All I'm going to confirm it that is the suspect involved in the shooting that we're looking for, and I put out his picture. So, if anybody sees him, they need to call us.
QUESTION: And do you have a name on him?
JONES: Jason Rodriguez. I gave it to -- I sent you a picture, 9/28 of '69, 2002 Nissan SUV, silver in color, delta 119 uniform, X- ray.
QUESTION: What type of business he worked in? What's the name of it.
JONES: Yes, I don't know the name of the business. I just know it's 1000 Legions Place and...
QUESTION: You said medical supplies or medical...
JONES: I don't know any of that, yes, sorry, Greg. I just...
QUESTION: The fourth floor, though, right?
JONES: Don't know what floor. Just that there was a shooting at that address.
QUESTION: OK. Jason Rodriguez, right?
JONES: Jason Rodriguez (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And there you've been listening to Orlando Police Department Sheriff -- Sergeant Barb Jones. Sergeant Jones giving us an update on Jason Rodriguez, 40-year-old man they are looking for. And they are at this point saying to Mr. Rodriguez, turn yourself in. And this is who they are looking for. An active shooter operation now under way there on the streets of downtown Orlando.
Chopper Dan high above the scene. Let's go to you, Dan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We actually are looking at live pictures from Chopper Dan. We want to go back to Bob Keeling now live in the newsroom. Bob, you have more information for us?
BOB KEELING, WESH-TV CORRESPONDENT: I just want to emphasize the fact that when OPD sent out this gentleman's picture, Jason Rodriguez, born September 28th, 1969, they are also emphasizing it should go without saying, but we want to say it anyway at this point, he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous and certainly desperate at this point as well.
The information that's also important to get across at this point is they say he's possibly driving a 2002 silver Nissan SUV with A tag of D as in David 119...
PHILLIPS: All right, you've been watching the live newscast of WESH, one of our affiliates there in Orlando, Florida. You're just now seeing who police are looking for. This is the alleged gunman on the loose that police need your help if you are in Orlando to find, 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez.
Still cannot confirm whether he is inside the Gateway Center there at 1000 Legion Place or not, or if he's driving his Silver Nissan SUV with the license plate D119UX. Police not sure if he has taken off in that vehicle or if, indeed, he is still locked up inside the building there, where allegedly, police say, he opened fire, killing two people and injuring six others. Multiple gunshot wounds on multiple floors in that office complex.
Two people on the line right now. A former SWAT commander from New Orleans, Howard Robertson. We'll get to him in just a second as the search continues for this shooter and the SWAT team is there clearing that building, possibly looking for that shooter inside the Gateway Center.
Also on the phone, Commander Vicki Robles with the Orlando Fire Department.
Commander Robles, let's start with you. What more can you tell us about this search for the shooter? Do you all believe he is still inside that Gateway Center?
CAPTAIN VICKI ROBLES, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, FIRE DEPARTMENT: Well, OPD cannot confirm that one way or another. That's why they're sending in a second SWAT team, and they're going to be going floor by floor, room by room and the stairwells to search for that gentleman.
PHILLIPS: OK. And can you confirm, just for double confirmation, you heard the sergeant just minutes ago releasing the picture of Jason Rodriguez, 40 years old. Can you confirm that this is the man that authorities are looking for?
ROBLES: That is the man they're looking for. He's a former employee of Smith & Reynolds is the business that has been identified. And he is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
PHILLIPS: Smith and Reynolds. What type of company is that?
ROBLES: I can't -- I don't have that information.
PHILLIPS: OK. So, former employee. Do authorities believe that -- do we know if he was recently fired, let go from this job, and that's why he came back for retaliation?
ROBLES: The reports they got was just that someone recognized him as a former employee, but they don't have any further information.
PHILLIPS: Can you confirm the two deaths that WKMG and WFTV there in Orlando are reporting? Are there two dead at this time?
ROBLES: I cannot confirm that because that would come from the hospital. I can tell you that all eight patients that were transported from the scene, although seven were trauma red, extremely critical, they were all still alive, and they were transported to the trauma center at ORMC. The eighth patient had cardiac-related problems, and they were transported to Florida Hospital. PHILLIPS: OK. And is there anything you can tell us about those victims, adults, children, employees there at Smith & Reynolds?
ROBLES: They have not identified any of the patients. I do know that they were all adults and that they were all multiple-gunshot victims.
PHILLIPS: Got it. All right, anything else you can add? Obviously, we want to keep the word out about the suspect, Jason Rodriguez, and ask Orlando to help in any way, shape or form to look for this man if indeed he's on the streets, Commander Robles, in this Nissan, Silver Nissan SUV, license plate D119UX.
Obviously if he is still inside that building, the SWAT team's goal, you said two SWAT teams on the scene now. Is that because they feel they need to clear out the Sheraton as well?
ROBLES: They are all concentrated right now on the 1000 Legion Place, the Gateway, and they're just -- I think they just want the personnel to make sure that they cover every single inch of that building.
PHILLIPS: So, the SWAT team has not gone into the Sheraton, is that right?
ROBLES: I can't report on that. I don't know.
PHILLIPS: OK. Anything else you can tell us that the fire department, Orlando Fire Department, is doing at this time?
ROBLES: No, ma'am. We still are on standby in case there are other patients that we haven't come across or -- and as a support to the police department. I would reiterate that people should stay out of the area.
the Interstate 4 in both directions had been shut down right there at the crime scene, and all the area around that. So, if people are coming to check on loved ones, they need to go to ORMC or call ORMC rather than report to the scene.
PHILLIPS: Got it. All right, we'll stay in touch. Commander Vicki Robles. Howard Robertson, stay with us for just a second. We want to dip in once again to the live newscast. Apparently we're getting another police briefing, more details.
JONES: I don't want to tell you what happened because that what's an investigation is. In the end when we're completely done with the investigation, we will know what the facts are based on witness testimony and evidence. That's what an investigation is, but right now, this is still considered active.
QUESTION: Do you have an update on the number of injured, Barbara?
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Do you know how many people you have on scene here. Can you tell us...
JONES: I can't tell you how many, but you've got a large perimeter. You've got motors. We've got the Orange County Sheriff's Office assisting us. We've got the fire department. We have various chaplains.
We have all the resources that the public gives us to protect our public and then to provide them the support that they need in the end. And that's -- hopefully, in the end, a tragedy can be soothed somewhat knowing that we've got the guy in custody.
QUESTION: Are you concerned that he's going to hook up with somebody else and something else may be (INAUDIBLE)?
JONES: We're always concerned about that, Gail. I mean, you know, the thing is is, we've got to find the guy.
QUESTION: Right.
JONES: And we've got to find him if he's in this direct area. We've got to find him if he's in that building or another building around that area. So, you know, whether he's still in the area, we're certainly going to get sightings. We have plenty of units, and we've got the assistance of the Orange County Sheriff also. So, hey, it's all about everybody working together and trying to get the guy in custody, and that's why we need you and we need those people watching the news of this unfolding event to participate in making this community safer and justice for these people.
QUESTION: All right, thank you, Barb.
QUESTION: We're hearing that he might have gained access possibly from a parking garage. Do we know how this man got in the building?
JONES: Yes, I don't -- you're asking me a lot of details. I am never going to release any specific details, because I can never confirm them.
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: Is that the name of the office?
JONES: It's just 1000 Legions Place.
QUESTION: Reynolds...
JONES: Whatever -- you know, I don't know if that's the only business. But 1000 Legions Place. If you have a loved one that worked at that address, then I would ask that you have them go to the church, and we will do some intervention there with the resources that we have and try to make this -- the -- you know, the -- I lost my train.
QUESTION: The whole process of transition...
JONES: The transition...
QUESTION: I got you.
JONES: ... to what happened the best that we can and, you know, and it's just a sad day.
QUESTION: Is traffic still shut down on I-4 or not?
JONES: I don't know. I haven't looked. But I'm asking that you stay out of this area. You need to exit before you try to go to Ivanhoe I-4 eastbound. Anything north of Colonial Drive at around Magnolia, Garland, Orange Avenue, up to and include Weber (ph) and the surrounding areas, you probably need to -- Princeton, you probably need to stay out of that particular geographical area.
QUESTION: Do you have any update on the number of injured at this point?
JONES: No. There's just multiple victims. And like I said, as soon as I can find out and I confirm, I'll let you know if anybody's died.
QUESTION: Barb, thank you so much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sergeant Barb Jones basically giving us information. Any loved ones...
PHILLIPS: Just to bring you up to date, if you're just tuning in to CNN, we're following breaking news right now. A shooting that took place in Orlando, Florida, downtown Orlando, high-rise called the Gateway Center, an office complex. Right now authorities looking for this man, 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez.
Not sure if he's still holed up inside that office building, where, by the way, there are still a number of people in there. They've barricaded themselves inside their office spaces. At this point, two of the affiliates there reporting two people dead, six injured. Apparently he opened fire, shooting -- allegedly shooting people on multiple floors. And right now we're getting word from our affiliates, not confirmed by the sergeant there, as you heard live, we're getting word, two dead through our affiliate, six injured. Seven of those eight in highly critical condition, as they were all transported to the hospital.
Howard Robertson, a former SWAT commander in New Orleans, on the line with me now. So, Howard, it's still extremely active because that gunman is on the loose, possibly still inside that building. Obviously, we see activity on the roof there. We saw two SWAT teams now have showed up. Kind of take us through now what the SWAT teams are going to be doing and how they're going to safely try and get this alleged shooter out of that building, and also save lives of all the others that are still barricaded inside those office spaces.
HOWARD ROBERTSON, FORMER SWAT COMMANDER (via telephone): Kyra, let me say that the public information officer is doing a really great job right now of telling people, the citizens what area to stay out and what areas she considers active. She's doing a really, really terrific job. What the SWAT team is doing is trying to isolate the area so that they can coordinate and do a door-by-door search.
You know, in most cases, the profile is that when the guy goes back to kill somebody in his office, he's either going to commit suicide himself or suicide by cop. Seldom do they leave. They're normally somewhere in that building. If they do leave, they're going to barricade themselves somewhere else.
He's expecting to die. When he came here, he expected to die, and it depends on who he takes with him. So, the cops know it's an extremely dangerous situation. They have go very carefully and extracting out people to make sure that they're safe without letting him escape.
PHILLIPS: You know, you bring up a really good point. I mean, obviously, the object -- number one is to, in every way, shape, or form eliminate the chance that this shooter could kill anybody else. Also, too, the last time you and I were talking live, in a very similar situation, the gunman had already taken his life. And so as the SWAT team was making its way, floor by floor, and getting everybody out safely and alive, they eventually came across the shooter that did take his own life.
From a psychological standpoint, explain to me why that is usually the norm. I mean, we're getting details about this guy. He's a former employee of Smith and Reynolds, a company that is inside this complex. Apparently some other former co-workers recognized him, and that's how police got the name, got the mugshot, et cetera. So, it's very possible that this was someone let go, was fired, it's a bad economy, he was disgruntled, and he came back to retaliate.
ROBERTSON: It's very similar to what happened yesterday to where, you know, somebody gets to a point to where they feel there's nowhere else and there's no reason to live, and they blame everybody else for their problem except themselves, so they're going to go punish a whole bunch of people. And at the same time they are expecting to die.
Now, most of the time they're going to kill themselves, and if they don't have the courage to kill themselves, that's when they go suicide by cop. They'll try and put themselves in a situation, expecting the police to kill them. But it's usually somebody so desperate that they don't see any other resolution. And hopefully, you know, usually friends will see this ahead of time and can kind of cut it off. The people that have no support system are the ones you see, they either go to a school, go to work and commit heinous crimes.
PHILLIPS: And another interesting thing, too -- we should probably point this out, Howard -- is that the last thing the SWAT team wants to do is take anybody out. I mean, I'm assuming from the training that I've had and learning from you years ago that they're going to want to bring everybody out alive, including the shooter. The last thing they want to do is get in a gun battle with this guy.
And, so, you know, tell me the mentality. I mean, their hope is, of course, to get everybody out alive, but if he starts opening fire, taking any other lives, then that's when he goes down, right?
ROBERTSON: Every SWAT team guy, you know, they're trained that they're not judge and jury. Their job is to get the guy out alive. Even if he's already killed two people and shot six, their job is to take him alive.
The only time they'll use deadly force if he's threatening the life of somebody else. And the only time that they would actually use deadly force is to save somebody else. So, those officers will do everything they can to take him out alive and let the jury decide what to do. The chances of that happening are very slim, though, very, very slim.
PHILLIPS: All right, so now you've got two SWAT teams on the scene. How do they coordinate with each other, Howard, to make sure they're not stepping on each other's toes and they're having good communication? And also, too, you know, what's your advice to those that have barricaded themselves in their offices? I mean, it's very possible, with technology these days, from our iPhones to small televisions to the computer, that folks barricaded inside that building are scared to death, not knowing what to do. Can you give some advice, if, indeed, they can hear us?
ROBERTSON: You know, the biggest thing is to stay barricaded. It's a very, very smart thing to barricade the doors, to stay down on the ground. Don't stand up. In case a suspect shoots through the door, it would normally hit chest high. So, the lower to the ground they can stay, the better off they are. And the more things they can pile in front of the door that would block or deflect the bullet would certainly be more beneficial to them.
And remain calm until they hear the police come, and don't open the door for anybody until the police identify themselves and tell you that it's OK. You know, communication by texting is great, because they can get back to people, let them know what room they're in. The police will know what room to evacuate.
And if anybody is injured, it's really important to let them know so that they'll go to them first. You know, if somebody is in one of these rooms and they're barricaded, if they can signal, even if they can go to a window and wave a white rag, a handkerchief, to let the police know that they're in there and they need help, the police will go that location first.
PHILLIPS: Great advice. Howard Robertson, if you can stay with us, I know you're at work right now, please do. Howard Robertson, former SWAT commander there in New Orleans, giving us great insight to what you're watching right now.
Breaking news out of Orlando, Florida, police still looking for this man, 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez. They believe he's still holed up in the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place in downtown Orlando after police say he opened fire. Reports are that two are dead, six injured.
We also got word that he's a former employee of Smith & Reynolds & Hills. On the phone with us now, Mike Bernoff, spokesperson for Smith & Reynolds & Hills.
Mike, anything you can tell us -- first of all, can you confirm that he's a former employee of your company?
MIKE BERNOFF, SPOKESMAN, SMITH & REYNOLDS & HILLS (via telephone): Yes, he is a former employee of our company.
PHILLIPS: And can you tell us if he was fired?
BERNOFF: He was let go because of performance issues.
PHILLIPS: What were his performance issues?
BERNOFF: We don't know that yet. We're still investigating that with H.R.
PHILLIPS: OK, still investigating that. Was this a concern at all within your company that this is someone that could be volatile, that this is somebody...
BERNOFF: No.
PHILLIPS: No, not at all?
BERNOFF: No. He was let go two years ago, in June of 2007. So, that's why we're still investigating it. But performance issues, I don't think there was any other signals that there was anything amiss there.
PHILLIPS: Interesting. We're talking with Mike Bernoff (ph), a spokesperson for Smith & Reynolds & Hills. And I have to tell you, Mike, we really appreciate you talking with us because...
BERNOFF: It's Reynolds, Smith & Hills.
PHILLIPS: It's Reynolds, Smith & Hills. I apologize. And can you tell me, just because I'm getting conflicting information on the company, what type of company is Reynolds, Smith & Hills?
BERNOFF: Architectural and engineering firm.
PHILLIPS: Got you. Architectural and engineering firm.
BERNOFF: And the office in Orlando does primarily transportation engineering.
PHILLIPS: Got it, transportation engineering. Can you tell us what type of work that Jason Rodriguez did for you?
BERNOFF: He did transportation engineering work.
PHILLIPS: Can you give me specifics? What did -- I'm not a transportation engineer. Can you kind of...
BERNOFF: Yes, you know, just, you know, he worked in engineering with the firm and doing transportation engineering work on -- for the Florida Department of Transportation. We have a lot of projects with them, so he would probably be working with some of those projects.
PHILLIPS: OK, got it. Do you know right now, how are your employees doing? Do you know if you have any employees that are still barricaded inside?
BERNOFF: You know, I believe they've all been let out of the building. And the police have locked down the building. They've been let out of the building. And we do know shots were fired. We don't know how many have been injured. The police are investigating that at this moment.
PHILLIPS: So, can you confirm that all your employees are out of that building?
BERNOFF: I cannot confirm that.
PHILLIPS: OK. Now, the eight that were shot, can you tell me if those eight are from your company?
BERNOFF: As far as I know, eight of those folks were from our company.
PHILLIPS: And can you confirm that two of them have died?
BERNOFF: Cannot confirm that yet.
PHILLIPS: All right. Have you been able to reach out to all the families of those employees?
BERNOFF: We're doing that as we speak. We've got people in our company doing that.
PHILLIPS: Anything that you can tell us that you are offering for your employees right now, those that have been able to get out? Are you calling in any kind of help, psychological help at all?
BERNOFF: Of course, of course we're going to be doing that. I can't say that that's being done at this moment, but that's all being discussed, and we're in the preparation of doing that.
PHILLIPS: OK, so, once again, Mike Bernoff there, spokesperson for Reynolds, Smith & Hills, transportation engineering company -- an architectural and engineering firm. But transportation engineering is what this specific office in Orlando specializes in.
Able to confirm to us that the man police are looking for right now is Jason Rodriguez, 40 years old. Mike confirming to us that he was let go for performance issues two years ago in June of 2007.
Mike, if you're still with me, I appreciate you calling in. I know this is not an easy time for you or anyone there at your company. We'll continue to of course follow this with hopes that all of your employees are out of that building in downtown Orlando.
Mike, thank you.
BERNOFF: Thank you, much. Thanks so much, (INAUDIBLE). Bye.
PHILLIPS: OK. So, that is Mike Bernoff, once again, spokesperson for the company there that this man, Jason Rodriguez, worked for two years ago, this is the man police are looking for right now. Howard Robertson, are you still on the phone with me?
ROBERTSON: Yes, ma'am.
PHILLIPS: Former SWAT commander there in New Orleans. Two SWAT teams on the scene right now. OK, so you heard there from the spokesperson for the company. This is sort of what you and I had speculated, that Mr. Rodriguez probably had gotten fired from the company, and he was coming back. Now, two years later, though, does that seem unusual to you?
ROBERTSON: No, not at all, because his life's probably gone downhill since then. The economy's gone bad, he's out of work. I mean, I'm surmising he's out of work, things are looking bad and he's looking back to where it started. And somewhere back two years ago, he feels it all started, and that's where he's going back to pay.
PHILLIPS: And right now, I've got to change our numbers a little bit. A little bit of better news here. We were reporting that the affiliates were saying two were dead. They're now coming forward saying, they are reporting one dead in this shooting, seven others shot as police continue to look for this gunman, Jason Rodriguez.
So there's still no confirmation, Howard, if indeed everybody has been cleared out of that building. So, as the two SWAT teams have arrived on the scene, how do they coordinate with each other as they go floor by floor, trying to get everybody out safely, in addition to trying to find this gunman dead or alive and getting him into custody as well?
ROBERTSON: I can tell you, I've done this myself, and it's very, very, very difficult. Usually the two departments are on different radio frequencies and don't share a common frequency for the SWAT team. So, you actually divide areas and give one SWAT team for one department and another from a different department different areas to search.
And they clear the building step by step but do it separately. They don't, you know, they don't team up. There's a command post where they share that command post, where the leaders are together, sharing information, making sure that each knows what the other is doing so it's coordinated. And everything I've seen so far has been excellently coordinated to make sure that this is handled properly.
PHILLIPS: You know, and you brought up an interesting point for our viewers that are just tuning in. We're continuing to follow the breaking news out of Orlando, Florida. One person reported dead, seven injured after a gunman opened fire in the Gateway Center at 1000 Legion Place, an office complex.
We are now learning more about that gunman, that alleged gunman. Police on the search for 40-year-old Jason Rodriguez, a former employee of Reynolds, Smith & Hills. Apparently, he was let go because of performance issues, according to the company spokesperson with whom I just spoke. That happened two years ago in June of 2007.
Howard Robertson on the line with me, former SWAT commander in New Orleans. Two SWAT teams now coordinating, trying to coordinate, clear that building and locate that alleged shooter that they believe is still holed up in that building.
Howard, you know, yesterday we had this shooting at Fort Hood. Today, we've got this shooting in Orlando, Florida. And you bring up a very good point. I mean, these are individuals so desperate, and there's such a psychological -- a huge psychological aspect to this that you as a SWAT commander had to deal with and the guys right there are having to deal with as well. I mean, they've got to reach out to find out as much as they can about this shooter as they look for him, correct?
ROBERTSON: It's not only that, you know, you try to look at the person's nationality because their background as a lot of difference in how they're going to react, whether or not they're going to surrender, you know, whether or not they're going to try to be a macho guy. All that comes into play in your decision making. If you noticed yesterday and today, you both had people who were blowing up (ph) the country who came to America hoping for, you know, prosperity, and when things go wrong and don't fall into place, it's so much extra stress on them that sometimes they crack.
PHILLIPS: And as a SWAT commander, I mean, I remember you being on scenes like this, you're doing everything possible to find out about that individual. You don't just go guns ablazing looking for somebody and approach them. But you're calling family members, you're looking at work history, you're looking at anything that might have happened, if they've ever attempted suicide, if they've suffered from depression. I mean, you do quite a psychological rap sheet in a very short period of time before you send a SWAT team into a situation like this.
ROBERTSON: In this case, you already have -- just by his mere actions, you already know a lot about him. Most of the time you try to find somebody, you know, whether or not they've ever been in the military, because if they've been in the military, then you know they're familiar with firearms, and they're trained in how to use them.
In this particular case, you already know that he's familiar with firearms, and you know he knows how to use them because he was accurate in his shooting.
You already know his mental state in that he's violent. One of the things you try to find from family members is, does he have a history of violence? Is he just threatening or is he actually capable of carrying it out?
In this situation, you already know he's carrying it out. Everything's been escalated to such a situation here, where, now, the whole thing that the SWAT team can do is, if they locate him and he's barricaded, is to give him time to calm down where they can deescalate the situation by trying to make him realize that surrendering is the best thing to do for his whole family. And that's not an easy thing to do.
PHILLIPS: No, it's not. And I have watched you in those situations where you have had to negotiate and you do everything possible to try to get them to come out alive and not to take anyone else's life.
In this situation now, you know, you brought up a very interesting point. Usually after going on a rampage like this, they usually end up taking their own life, or suicide by cop. More than often through your experience, what happens?
ROBERTSON: Well, you know, most of the time, Kyra, as soon as somebody makes this decision, they have already decided to die. And the problem is that they've decided to take other people with them. Now it's up to the SWAT teams -- you know, it's up to them to make sure that no one else gets injured.
So far you have, like, six, seven people injured. Their job is to make sure that no one else is injured. And that's all they're trying to do so.
Now, if they get confronted by this individual, chances are they're going to have to shoot him. The chances of him surrendering at this point are going to be really, really slim, unless you get great information from maybe family members and the negotiator is able to calm him down. Chances are he's already committed suicide or he's barricaded somewhere else. But we haven't heard any other gunfire.
If he was still there, he would be shooting. So he's either dead or gone, in my opinion.
PHILLIPS: Interesting point. No, and that is exactly what happened last time you and I were in this same situation, covering the same type of standoff as SWAT teams were looking for a gunman in a large building like this.
Howard, if you can, once again, I know you're working right now, but if you can stay with me, I sure appreciate your insight, Howard Robertson, former SWAT commander from New Orleans with me, kind of helping me lead through the afternoon here.
