Defense cites mental health issues in Orlando office shootings

ORLANDO — Jason Rodriguez was charged Saturday with first-degree murder, accused of killing one and wounding five Friday at his former office. In his brief court appearance Saturday, his attorney portrayed him as a mentally ill man who fell victim to countless problems.

"This guy is a compilation of the front page of the entire year — unemployment, foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorce — all of the stresses," said the public defender, Bob Wesley. "He has been declining in mental health."

Police refused to say anything more Saturday about their investigation into the shooting.

Rodriguez was an entry-level engineer for 11 months at Reynolds, Smith and Hill before being fired in June 2007.