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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Worker Kills Four Superiors Police Arrest L.A. Gunman Upset By Poor Evaluation

Los Angeles Times

A city electrician - angered over a poor performance evaluation and fearing he might be fired - hunted down and shot to death four of his superiors at Los Angeles’ downtown technical center Wednesday morning before he was disarmed and arrested, police said.

Police said Willie Woods, 42, apparently had reported to work as usual and had gone directly to the communications area where he works as a radio repairman.

After angry discussions with someone there about his evaluation, Woods left but returned moments later with a 19-shot Glock semiautomatic pistol, investigators said.

Woods quickly searched out his four victims - Anthony J. Gain, 78; Marty Wakefield, 57; Neil Carpenter, 61; and James Walton, 60 - all veteran city employees. Carpenter and Walton are the men who recently had given Woods the poor evaluation, officials said. Gain - the city’s most senior employee, with 53 years of service - was office supervisor.

Gain and Wakefield were shot in their office cubicles on the ground floor. Woods then walked down a flight of stairs and opened fire on Carpenter and Walton - one in a hallway, the other in an office, according to accounts from police and union officials.

Two police officers who were in the building tracked Woods to an open area behind the building.

When the officers confronted him, Woods dropped his pistol and surrendered, according to police. Woods, who has worked for the city for a dozen years, was booked on suspicion of murder.