Times Telemarketing Worker Shoots Colleague, Kills Self

An employee at a Los Angeles Times telemarketing office fired numerous gunshots at his co-workers Tuesday night, wounding one man and barricading himself in an office where he was later found dead of what authorities believed were self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The body of James Pittmon, a telemarketing sales representative who had worked for The Times for more than five years, was found in a second-floor office, four hours after he apparently opened fire in the building in the 2000 block of East Cashdan Street, authorities said.

The wounded man, Philip Washington, also a Times telemarketing representative at the Rancho Dominguez facility, was shot in the chest. He was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where he was in stable condition.

The incident began at 6:20 p.m. when about 70 Times employees were returning to the office from their evening break. Employee Richard Elliott said Pittmon walked into the telemarketing room holding a gun over his head.

“He walked in, brought the gun down and bang!� Elliott said. “Then he just walked out. He looked very calm. He said nothing, no words at all.�

Employees who had fled the building told sheriff’s deputies that Pittmon had a dispute with Washington and was aiming at him. But after Washington was shot, Pittmon began firing wildly at other co-workers, authorities said.

“Most of the employees were able to get out of the building, with the exception of three people who were forced to barricade themselves in an office,� said Deputy Henry Garza.

Times spokeswoman Laura Morgan said the company sent counselors to the scene to speak with employees.