Chicago High Rise Killer Identified

On December 8, 2006, a gunman forced himself into an elite law firm on the 38th floor of the Citigroup building, in Chicago, Illinois. The gunman took a hostage, and shot four people.

The late Friday afternoon shooting caused the high rise to be locked down for 45 minutes. A loudspeaker instructed occupants of the building to lock office doors, stay inside, and not to let anyone in.

The shooting occured in the Law Firm of Wood, Phillips, Katz , Clark and Mortimer. Wood Phillips is an elite law firm that specializes in patent law. Allegedly, the shooter, Joe Jackson, 59, felt he had been cheated on a truck toilet seat invention, prompting the outbreak.

Michael R. McKenna, 58, a patent attorney who rented space from the firm was shot and killed. Jackson had McKenna's business card in his pocket.

A partner in the firm, Allen J. Hoover, 65, of Wilmette was also shot and killed.

Paul Goodson, a 78-year-old retired schoolteacher, who worked part time in the office for Wood Phillips, was also shot and killed.

The fourth victim, Ruth Zak Leib, was shot in the foot, but survived and is in good condition.

The gunman, Joe Jackson, was shot at the scene by a Swat team sniper.

The Northwestern Metra Station is located on the lower floors of the Citigroup Buidling, Metra train service was shut down for two hours. The combination of the shut down of commuter train service, and of traffic in the area being blocked off, caused major traffic delays in the City of Chicago, into Friday evening.