GLENDALE, Ariz. — Police have taken a person into custody after they allegedly shot their coworker at a Little Caesars in Glendale Friday morning, the city's police department said.
Officers said the employee of a pizzeria near 43rd and Peoria avenues shot another employee and then locked themself in a bathroom. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene and police took the suspect into custody without incident.
Police said no customers were inside the Little Caesars at the time but other employees were working when the shooting occurred.
Public records identify the suspect as 40-year-old Oscar Ocon and the victim as 37-year-old Fermin Reyna.
Court records show the shooting was possibly prompted by an incident that had occurred one week earlier at the nearby Target store.
The pizzeria employees had walked over to Target like they did most mornings. The 37-year-old allegedly made a rude comment about a Target security guard, which was reported to Target's management and thus reported back to the Little Caesars manager, records show.
The 37-year-old allegedly blamed Ocon for reporting him about the Target incident and reportedly made a threat against his coworker.
On Friday morning, Ocon allegedly brought a 9mm rifle to work and started shooting Reyna after the victim clocked into the Little Caesars. The suspect then allegedly stomped on his head a couple of times.
Investigators reported finding at least 15 shell casings at the scene, records show. The suspect allegedly said he wanted to "take out" his coworker before "he does me."
Lisa Elkin, Vice President of Communications at Little Caesars, issued the following statement:
"We are devastated by this incredibly tragic situation and our hearts go out to the victim’s family. As a family company, our colleagues are central to who we are and remain the most important part of our brand. We are diligently working with local authorities and are unable to comment further at this time."
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