MARIETTA, Ga. — A former employee accused in a deadly shooting spree in Kennesaw was in court monday as prosecutors formally filed their request to seek the death penalty.
ajc.com Jesse James Warren IM not cropped and credits ajc.com Jesse James Warren Jesse James Warren
Jesse James Warren, 60, of Temple, Ga., sat in court with two rows of victims' families looking on, according to Channel 2's Ross Cavitt. Warren was scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Warren ambushed workers inside a Penske Truck Rental & Leasing in January. They said he killed Robert Gonzalez, 31, of Dallas, Van Springer, 59, of Woodstock, and Jaider Marulanda, 43, of Lawrenceville, and wounded two others.
Four of the victims were Penske employees while Marvlanda was a truck driver for a local food distributor that is a Penske customer.
Brian Hard, the president of Penske Truck Leasing said he believed the gunman choose his victims at random.
"It appears to have been random, to come in and shoot one of our customers who couldn't possibly have been involved in any grievance," Hard said.
Barbara Springer, whose husband of 37 years was killed, said her husband didn't speak much about Warren, but she knew he had been laid off recently and that "he had some issues."
Roberto Gonzalez with wife Roberto Gonzalez with wife Shawna Roberto Gonzalez with wife Shawna
Penske spokesman, Randy Ryerson, said Warren was a former employee of the Penske business.
Cobb County police spokesman Joe Hernandez said the suspect worked at the business for several years but it was unclear when and why he left.
Warren, dressed in camouflage, entered Penske Truck Rental & Leasing at 3011 Barrett Lakes Boulevard just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, and opened fire, according to police.
Warren confronted someone in the parking lot and moved to an area where there are truck bays, shooting victims, Hernandez said.
SLIDESHOW: Penske Shooting Scene Ex-Worker Opens Fire At Penske Truck Business Shooting Victims Taken To Kennestone Hospital
"He opened fire, striking the victims," said Hernandez.
All of the victims were in a warehouse section of the business when they were shot.
Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty against Warren.
WSBTV
