A man shot and killed a security guard before killing himself at a federal building in New York City on Friday.
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FACEBOOK Security guard Idrissa Camara left his 1-year-old daughter behind in Ivory Coast to pursue the American dream, friends and family said.
U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, whose office had tried to assist Downing in his fight with the federal government, said there was never any sign of mental illness from the killer.
The senior guard was armed, but had no chance to defend himself, according to contractor FJC Security Services. He said there was no indication that the shooting was terrorism related.
Police officers work at the scene following a shooting at a federal building, Friday, August 21, 2015, in New York. “There were no other suspects, and the building was secured as of just before 7 p.m. “(Police) came over the PA system and said ‘Seek shelter, there’s been an incident.
“What made him snap?”
Kevin Downing, a 68-year-old army veteran from Fort Lee, N.J., shot Camara in the head, before taking his own life the same way, according to authorities.
Employees at the building said they were told to get down on the ground when the shots rang out. “We saw cops running, literally, and trying to save people”, one witness said. Pascrell said in a telephone interview.
“There’s proof to point that Mr. Downing’s termination was inappropriate as a result of it was in retaliation for his communication with Congressional employees relating to what he believed to be waste and abuse current within the Bureau of Labor Statistics”, Pascrell wrote.
Camara was supposed to leave work at 4pm but had agreed to stay for an extra shift, his company said.
Police said a man walked into the building and opened fire before shooting himself.
Police officers ran through the streets surrounding the federal building. “I don’t know”. FJC Security said its search of company records found no connection between Camara and his killer.
“We are shocked and horrified at this bad news and send our deepest condolences to Officer Camara’s family”, said Hector Figueroa, president of 32BJ Service Employees worldwide Union. “We hope some of our questions in the face of this awful tragedy will be answered”.
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