Postal Shooter May Have Slain Former Neighbor to Begin Killing Spree

Feb. 2, 2006
Authorities now believe that former postal worker Jennifer Sanmarco's Jan. 30 shooting rampage was not limited to the Goleta, Calif., post office where she killed six co-workers before taking her own life.

The discovery of the dead body of Beverly Graham, a former neighbor of Sanmarco, the day after the postal slayings has led authorities to suspect that Sanmarco may have shot Graham before unleashing her rage on her former co-workers at the post office.

Sanmarco on the night of Jan. 30 shot three former co-workers outside the Santa Barbara Processing and Distribution Center in Goleta with a 9 mm handgun, according to the U.S. Postal Service. Sanmarco then took an ID from another employee at gunpoint and entered the facility, where she shot three more workers before killing herself.

Killed during the shooting were Guadalupe Swartz, Nicola Grant, Ze Fairchild, Maleka Higgins and Dexter Shannon. The sixth victim, Charlotte Colton, died Feb. 1 from her wounds.

According to the Postal Service, Sanmarco was deemed not fit for work and was separated from the agency on disability retirement in 2003.

"Our heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the families of the victims and to our employees who have suffered through this tragic incident," Postmaster General John Potter said in a statement. " … The Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service are cooperating fully with local law enforcement officials in their investigation. I ask that you keep the families of the victims in your thoughts and prayers."

Sponsored Recommendations

3 Essential Elements for a Strong Safety Culture

March 13, 2024
Organizations globally have increased their attention on safety culture: trying to figure out what it really is and the aspects that are necessary to develop and sustain it. And...

Making the Case for Occupational Health Software

March 13, 2024
Deciding to invest in Occupational Health (OH) software can be a challenging leap for many organizations. This article will equip businesses with insightful strategies for effectively...

Fighting the Flu: Solutions for the Workplace

March 13, 2024
Seasonal flu continues to wreak considerable havoc both on individual wellness, as well as on our business continuity and productivity. Explore these solutions for protecting ...

Preventing SIFs with Digitization: Reduce Serious Injuries and Fatalities with Technology

March 13, 2024
This eBook discusses the origins of SIF prevention, outlines principles, models and tools available to EHS leaders to better detect and address SIF potential in their business...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!