AP: Texas

05/06/2005

Associated Press

Police investigating a murder-suicide at an oil-equipment company said Friday they still don't know why a patent lawyer decided to kill a co-worker and then himself.

Police identified the gunman Friday as Jackie Lee Duke, 52, of Houston. He was working for Cameron, a division of Cooper Cameron, on contract as a patent lawyer. He had once been a full-time employee of the company that makes equipment for oil exploration.

The victim was identified as Michael Paul Hartmann, 54, of Ingleside, near Corpus Christi. Hartmann, also a patent lawyer, was a full-time employee of Cameron, police said.

Cooper Cameron spokesman Scott Amann said he couldn't immediately confirm the men's employment histories or whether Duke and Hartmann were working together.

Duke walked into Hartmann's office at about 8:30 a.m. Thursday armed with two handguns and shot Hartmann in the head and back before shooting himself in the head, police said.

Police spokesman Nate McDuell said Friday that Duke was heavily in debt and left a suicide note at his apartment, but they still don't know why he killed Hartmann.

Two handguns — one a .357 caliber revolver and a semiautomatic — were found in Hartmann's office. Police also found more ammunition in Duke's s briefcase, which he had left in his car.