A civilian Navy employee shot and wounded two co-workers in their office Friday after an argument, then killed himself in front of other office employees.

Ernest J. Cooper Jr. twice shot a young superior, Nils F. “Fred” Salvesen, after a confrontation at Salvesen’s desk, police said. Cooper immediately turned to the next cubicle in the cramped Navy office and shot Navy Cmdr. Harry F. Molyneux four times.

Cooper, 58, then pointed the .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun at his head and fired once, police said.

Salvesen, 30, was in critical condition. Molyneux, 39, was in fair condition.

Cooper, a logistics expert and Air Force retiree, had worked at the office since 1986. He worked for both wounded men.