'There are gunshots'

2009-11-06 20:52

Florida - Officials said at least two people were killed and six wounded in a shooting at a downtown Orlando office building on Friday and the gunman was on the loose.

People streamed out of the high-rise building and some told local television stations they had barricaded themselves inside their offices.

Orlando Fire Department District Chief Michael Droege said an unknown number of people were still in the building and could be wounded. He said a police commando team was still trying to pull people out.

"The building is not secure now," he said. "It's still unfolding."

The mass shooting occurred one day after a US army psychiatrist allegedly opened fire on fellow soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, in a rampage that left 13 people dead.

Orlando police were searching for an armed man wearing a light blue polo shirt and jeans, said Orange County Sheriff's spokesperson Jim Solomons, whose department was called in for backup.

Gerry Gilgo, who works on the floor where the shooting occurred, told The Associated Press she was meeting a co-worker at the elevators for lunch.

"She yelled there are gun shots! There are gun shots! Get back in your office," Gilgo said.

Orlando Police Sergeant Barbara Jones confirmed there had been a shooting and multiple people were hurt but she couldn't say how many. She said there is believed to be only one shooter.

The Orlando Fire Department told WESH-TV that at least eight people were wounded. Interstate 4 was closed in both directions through downtown and a nearby school was locked down.

Rows of ambulances lined up outside the building as police snipers took up positions around the building and officers on foot and horseback searched the area.
 

- AP