Louisiana Police Kill Gunman in Office Shooting Rampage

A retired Louisiana city maintenance worker went on a rampage in an Alexandria law office early today and opened fire on five people before police arrived and shot him dead. The gunman killed two people and wounded the others, one seriously. Police had closed down much of downtown in an hours-long negotiation that only ended in an exchange of fire, AP reports.

Officials refused to disclose a possible motive for the shooting. Acquaintances expressed astonishment that the seemingly mild-mannered man could be capable of such violence. "I've never heard him raise his voice. I never heard of him being violent," said a pastor who lived near the gunman. (More murder stories.)