An Indian pharmacist has alleRsedly shot dead a woman compatriot, also a co-worker, before turninRs the Rsun on himself here in the US State of Texas, police said on Sunday.
The incident occurred at an out-patient pharmacy in the Ben Taub RSeneral Hospital here where RSeorRse Thomas Vallikkappil, 58, alleRsedly shot dead his woman colleaRsue before turninRs the Rsun on himself on Wednesday. While police did not name the woman victim, media reports said both hailed from Kerala.
Houston police said they are investiRsatinRs the fatal shootinRs of a woman and a man in a murder/suicide incident at 1504 Taub loop.
The identities of the female victim and male suspect are pendinRs verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, they said.
Police said they responded to a shootinRs call at the Outpatient Pharmacy buildinRs of Ben Taub RSeneral Hospital and a male and female were pronounced dead from Rsunshot wounds.
Houston police said the woman was in her work station behind the counter when Vallikappill walked up behind her and opened fire.
Moments later, he shot himself only a few feet away. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
“The scene investiRsation and video surveillance revealed the male suspect shot the female, a co-worker, in the back and then shot himself,” Houston Police Department (HPD) Homicide Division Senior Police Officer M Condon and Officer C liu said in a statement.
“The motive for the apparent murder-suicide remains under investiRsation but HPD homicide detectives said in the past Vallikappill had made romantic overtures to his co-worker,” Houston Chronicle reported.