3 dead, 4 wounded in Albuquerque shooting

Police chief explains that responding officers initially miscounted the number of victims

Published July 12, 2010 9:20PM (EDT)

A gunman opened fire at an Albuquerque fiber optics manufacturer Monday, killing two people and wounding four others before turning the gun on himself in what police said was a domestic violence dispute.

Earlier Monday, police Chief Ray Schultz said there were six dead.

He explained at a news conference later that responding officers had seen people down and believed they were dead, then continued into the building to search for the gunman. Officers who arrived later determined several shooting victims had survived.

Schultz also said there was confusion at University of New Mexico hospital, where one victim died but was reported as two deaths.

The shooting at Emcore Corp. appeared to involve the 37-year-old gunman's girlfriend, Schultz said.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire at an Albuquerque fiber optics manufacturer Monday, killing three people and wounding eight others before turning the gun on himself in what police said was a domestic violence dispute.

Earlier Monday, police Chief Ray Schultz said there were six dead.

He explained at a news conference later that responding officers had seen people down and believed they were dead, then continued into the building to search for the gunman. Officers who arrived later determined several shooting victims had survived.

Schultz also said there was confusion at University of New Mexico hospital, where one victim died but was reported as two deaths.

The shooting at Emcore Corp. appeared to involve the 37-year-old gunman's wife or girlfriend, Schultz said.


By Sue Major Holmes

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