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Gunman Kills 2, Self at Calif. Medical Center

Pharmacy worker believed to have been fearing layoffs

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 17, 2009 4:08 AM CDT
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(Newser) – A worker at the Long Beach Medical Center shot and killed his boss and another manager before taking his own life yesterday, reports the Los Angeles Times. Witnesses said pharmacy technician Mario Ramirez, 50, showed up for work brandishing a pair of handguns and deliberately sought out his victims. Friends say he had heard rumors of impending layoffs.

Ramirez, described by colleagues as a "funny, humble, nice" man with a wife and children, had never had any personnel problems at the center, said a hospital spokeswoman who added that layoffs had been made last month but no further job reductions were planned. "There were no signs or indication that something like this could happen," she said. "I don't believe there was anything we could have done."

Long Beach Police officers surround the Long Beach Memorial Hospital after a shooting that left two people dead and one in critical condition yesterday.
Long Beach Police officers surround the Long Beach Memorial Hospital after a shooting that left two people dead and one in critical condition yesterday.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
A Los Angeles County Coroner technician transfers a body into a coroner's van parked outside the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center emergency entrance yesterday.
A Los Angeles County Coroner technician transfers a body into a coroner's van parked outside the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center emergency entrance yesterday.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Police secure the door of the emergency walk-in area as they surround the Long Beach Memorial Hospital after a shooting that left two people dead yesterday.
Police secure the door of the emergency walk-in area as they surround the Long Beach Memorial Hospital after a shooting that left two people dead yesterday.   (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
Robert_Dada
Apr 17, 2009 12:10 PM CDT
F'ing guns. The real problem in this country.
woodyTX
Apr 17, 2009 9:14 AM CDT
A 12 gauge would do fine TC Wide spread. Lethal at close range. It's the assault weapons and handguns that are the problem. I don't see psycada or AClotfelter or northeast coming back with any solutions to the issue. Just their interpetation of the Constitution, the Bible, Playboy magazine articles, Guns Monthly or any other reference they can use to paper over the problem. Ideology trumps logic all the time with this crowd.
woodyTX
Apr 17, 2009 2:42 AM CDT
Then why psycada, does the US have a death rate from guns per year per 100,000 people which is three times higher than Canada, Denmark, Autrsalia, New Zealand and a host of other "developed" countries ? Why is it in the headlines every single night of the year ? Get your head out of your ass and face reality. If you don't want to control hand guns and assault weapons then make yourself useful and please propose some alternatives to get gun violence and the death rate down. What is your proposal ?..or are you happy with the worsening status quo ? Which is it ? I'm waiting.

Witnesses describe chaotic scene at medical center
Press-Telegram (Long Beach)

 
California • layoffs • murder-suicide • Long Beach • shooting • mass shootings • Mario Ramirez

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