NASA shooter blamed victim for job review

HOUSTON: A space engineer who killed a co-worker and himself at NASA's Johnson Space Center used a gun bought the same March day as he printed out a negative job report that he blamed on his victim, police said on Saturday.   

Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt described a "nightmare-type situation" in which NASA quality-control engineer David Beverly, shot in the chest and leg by contract worker Bill Phillips, was shot again repeatedly and died on Friday as he was trying to barricade an office to keep Phillips from returning.   

"The suspect blamed Mr Beverly for being responsible for his negative job-performance situation," Hurtt said.   

Phillips held hostage another co-worker, Fran Crenshaw, until he shot himself dead, Hurtt said. Crenshaw was unharmed.   

Hurtt said Phillips had printed out the job report on March 16, and the same day bought a 5-shot Smith & Wesson revolver, with 20 rounds of hollow-point ammunition.   

Phillips came to Beverly at NASA center on Friday openly holding his gun, Hurtt said. He said Beverly tried to calmly discuss the job issue for several minutes, but Phillips raised his gun and shot Beverly twice.   

Phillips then left the room momentarily and came back, overcoming Beverly's attempts at resistance.   

"Heroes just don't just fly in space, sometimes heroes work in the next cubicle too," Hurtt said.