Two Malayalis killed in US murder-suicide

KOTTAYAM: A case of apparent murder-suicide at a hospital in Houston in which two persons from Kerala were killed has left the Malayali community in the US in a state of shock.
According to reports reaching here, one George hailing from Teekkoy near Erattupetta is said to have shot his colleague Reena before turning the gun on himself at an out-patient pharmacy of the Ben Taub General Hospital in Huston.Both were working as pharmacists in the hospital.
According to Houston police, George had apparently tried to “enhance” his work relationship with the woman, possibly to a romantic level, but failed.
The shooting occurred around 2.15pm (local time) in view of up to seven employees, said Houston police spokesman John Cannon. However, no one else was hurt in the incident.
The 58-year-old man walked up to the woman and shot her several times at point-blank range, said Cannon. The officer refused to reveal the exact age of the woman whom he described as younger to her attacker. Police have recovered a 9-millimeter handgun used for the crime.
The two employees had worked together at the pharmacy for several years, said Cannon.
Meanwhile, a close relative of George at Teekkoy rubbished the version by the Houston police. “There was an issue of seniority between the two. George was denied promotion by the lady and he was also continuously harassed by her. He might have resorted to the act out of this desperation,” alleged the relative.
George had left Teekkoy for the US in 1989 and had been staying there ever since. He is survived by wife, who hails from Thodupuzha, and two children.