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American Morning

Sacramento, California Rocked by Second Killing Spree in Less Than a Month

Aired September 10, 2001 - 11:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin in Sacramento, California, a city rocked by a second killing spree in less than a month. The young suspect in this one that just happened is accused of killing five people. Today, he apparently killed himself after police cornered him.

CNN's James Hattori joins us now live from Sacramento. He's got the story -- James.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As you mentioned, three weeks after the notorious murders of seven members of a Ukrainian family in Sacramento, another manhunt and killing spree. This one ending in a gun battle. And the gunman, Joseph Ferguson, the suspended Burn's security guard, apparently taking his own life.

The officers converged on the suspect in eastern Sacramento County at 11:30 last night. That led to an exchange of gunfire, which left a CHP officer and a bystander wounded. Now we're told Ferguson fired as many as 100 round from a semiautomatic rifle. Yesterday, police say Ferguson killed a fifth victim, another former coworker at Burns security. That after killing three other Burns guards, including his ex-girlfriend and a city park worker Saturday night.

Investigators say Ferguson also prepared a videotape in which he talked about the deadly rampage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF ARTURO VENEGAS JR., SACRAMENTO POLICE: He in essence gave his final message to us and to his family. He pretty much was bent on killing some additional people, and his message was that he was going to shoot it out with the police officers. He was prepared that along the way, if he was wounded and bleeding, he would commit suicide. And we believe that's pretty much how it concluded.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HATTORI: As for Ferguson's motive, police believe that an altercation that he had with his girlfriend, who eventually become a victim, led to his being suspended by Burns Security, and that may have been what -- been why, rather, he targeted Burns employees during his rampage -- Leon.

HARRIS: James Hattori in Sacramento, thank you.

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