Tragedy as police officer kills colleagues in Puerto Rico

Suspected shooter Guarionex Candelario Rivera (left) and the three victims he shot (C)PuertoRicoPolice

A policeman in the Puerto Rican city of Ponce entered the office of his commanding officer, held her and two other members of the force hostage, and then fatally shot all three. The shooter, identified as Guarionex Candelario Rivera, was arrested immediately afterward. The incident took place Monday morning following an argument at work that temporarily shut down the station in the U.S. territory's second largest city, authorities said. Police did not yet have information on a motive, Ayala said.
According to local media, 50-year-old Candelario spent 19 years on the force but had been kept on restricted duties for long stretches because of “problematic behavior.” He worked in the anti-drug division.
"This is a very tragic situation that appalls us all especially because it occurred during the holidays," said police spokesman Axel Valencia.
Authorities evacuated the station to investigate threats of a possible explosive device in the suspect's car, but they did not say whether anything was found.
Police said at a press conference that the suspect previously had been stripped of his weapon but received a psychological evaluation nearly two years ago and his weapon was returned. Authorities declined to provide any other details, saying the investigation was barely starting.
"Ponce is in mourning," Mayor María Melendez said in a statement. "May God give the family members of the police officers involved the strength, fortitude and serenity to absorb this news."
Officials said the victims were 1st Lt. Luz Soto Segarra and Cmdr. Frank Román Rodríguez, both 49, and policewoman Rosario Hernández de Hoyo. Soto's husband also was a police lieutenant, said José Cruz Martínez, vice president of the Puerto Rican Police Union.
Soto and Román each had been with Puerto Rico's police department for more than 20 years, said Cruz, adding that they had been his friends for 15 years. Valencia said Román was named Commander of the Year for Ponce in 2014.

Source: FoxNews