Chicago – The gunman who went on a deadly shooting spree in a downtown high-rise law office went to the building in search of an attorney because he felt cheated over an invention, authorities said Saturday.
Joe Jackson, 59, made at least one other attempt Friday to enter the offices of the intellectual property law firm Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer but was turned away because he didn’t have an appointment, said Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline.
The next time he returned, Jackson had a revolver, a knife and a hammer hidden in a manila envelope, Cline said. Jackson forced a security guard at gunpoint to take him to the 38th floor, where shooting victim Michael McKenna, 58, rented office space. Jackson carried Mc Kenna’s business card in his pocket, Cline said.
Then Jackson chained the doors behind him, grabbed a hostage and started shooting as he ranted to witnesses that he had been deceived over his invention, a toilet for a truck, Cline said.
“We know he went there for Mr. McKenna, then he continued to shoot other people,” Cline said.
He was holding a hostage at gunpoint when two SWAT officers shot him in the face and chest from about 45 yards away, Cline said.
There were no negotiations, and the hostage was unharmed, police said.
“He had already shot four people. He had reloaded his gun,” Cline said Saturday.
Jackson died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner’s office, which identified the other victims Saturday as McKenna; attorney Allen Hoover, 65, of Wilmette; and Paul Goodson, 78, of Chicago, a retired teacher.
Colleagues said Hoover was a partner at the firm and McKenna was a patent attorney. Goodson worked part time, sorting mail and making deliveries.
Ruth Zak Leib, 57, of Oak Park was treated for a foot wound.
