Mar 4, 2008 11:49 am US/Eastern
Fund Set Up For Family Of Wendy's Shooting Victim
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (CBS4) ―
The Palm Beach County police and firefighters union has set up a special account for the family of Palm Beach Fire Rescue Lieutenant Rafael Vazquez who died during a shooting rampage at a Wendy's restaurant on Monday.
Lt. Vazquez left behind a wife and five children.
Donations can be sent to:
Professional Firefighters and Paramedics of Palm Beach County
2328 S. Congress Ave.
Suite 2-C
Palm Springs, Fl 33406 Checks should be made payable to the
Firefighter Benevolent Fund and "Lt. Vazquez family" should be written in the memo section.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said 60-year-old Alburn Blake shot five people inside the restaurant before killing himself shortly after noon.
Vazquez, his wife and their young son had reportedly already finished their lunch and were outside heading to their car when he decided to go back inside to exchange a toy that was part of his child's kid' meal. That's when Blake, dressed in a suit and a tie, emerged from a bathroom and started firing. Investigators say Blake walked up behind Lt Vazquez with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic and fired. Vazquez, the first shot, was hit point blank and died on the scene.
The other victims were identified Monday night as 45-year old Louis Rader of Jupiter, his wife, Antonia, who are in stable condition at the Delray Medical Center; 16-year-old Vanessa Soto of Lake Worth who's also in stable condition and 43-year old Carl Michalek of Kileen, Texas who was shot in the upper right arm.
Investigators have searched Blake's car and his apartment, but say they've learned little that would help them to understand why he opened fire in the restaurant.
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