Lawyers killed in office shootings

A lawyer in the US has shot dead his colleague, then turned the gun on himself.

Both men were oil industry lawyers. The men’s names were not available, but police described them both as white and in their 50s or 60s.

“It appears we have a murder-suicide,” Houston Police Captain Dwayne Ready said.

Two handguns – a .357-calibre revolver and a semi-automatic – were found under the chair of the gunman.

The victim, who was shot in the head, was a patent lawyer with Cooper Cameron oil services. The gunman was working under contract at the firm.

The shooting happened on the fifth floor of the Cameron building in west Houston, Texas. About 700 people work in the nine-story building and most were able to go back to work shortly after the incident.

Police were interviewing the 50 employees who were on the floor when the shooting occurred.

“There are a whole lot of people who are walking around kind of stunned,” Captain Ready said.

The building had no metal detectors, but the officer said murder detectives were reviewing tapes from the building’s security cameras.

Cooper Cameron said it would provide counsellors to employees.

President Sheldon Erikson said officials were “deeply saddened by the tragic events”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and co-workers at this difficult time,” he said.