Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Regional news: Police release more details in Tualatin shooting

Shooter began firing rounds before entering business, used multiple weapons

• Published: 11/12/2009 12:02:45 PM

Photo courtesy of Tualatin Police Department
This undated photo provided by surviving family members shows Robert and Teresa Beiser and their two children. Robert is suspected of fatally shooting himself and his wife Tuesday at Legacy MetroLab-Tualatin.

TUALATIN - The suspect in Tuesday’s double-fatal shooting began firing before entering the business, yelling at patrons to leave the business, the Tualatin Police Department said Wednesday evening.
 
TPD released a number of additional details related to the incident at Legacy MetroLab-Tualatin, a drug-testing center.
 
Robert Beiser, 39, of Gladstone, is suspected of fatally shooting his estranged wife, MetroLab employee Teresa Beiser, 36, also of Gladstone, before also killing himself by gunshot. Two other MetroLab employees, identified Wednesday evening as Brittany Nichole Lore, 20, of Vancouver, and Tony Ochoa, 63, of Tigard, were injured in the shooting.
 
The initial investigation shows that Robert Beiser pulled into the business parking lot Tuesday morning and exited his vehicle, armed with a rifle, shotgun and handgun. He began firing into the business through the front plate-glass windows, letting off at least three rounds before entering the building. At least one of the initial rounds struck Teresa Beiser as she was standing near the front lobby area.
 
A male patron of the business was in the front lobby when the shooting began, TPD said; the suspect yelled at him to leave the building and continued firing.
 
Lore was near the front doors at the time of the shooting and was injured by flying glass and bullet fragments. She ran out of the building and flagged down help near a Subway store. She was assisted by a bystander until medic units arrived and transported her to Portland’s Legacy Emanuel Hospital, where she was treated for injuries and released.
 
Ochoa was also in the business when the first rounds were fired; he was hit on a hand, his chest and a leg. Ochoa crawled to a neighboring business, where a worker administered first aid until officers were able to contain the scene and allow medical units to enter. He was flown by Life Flight to Oregon Health and Sciences University, where he is recovering from his injuries.
 
Teresa Beiser’s body was found near the front lobby of the business. She had been shot multiple times by the suspect, using both the assault rifle and the shotgun. Robert Beiser’s body was found in a bathroom/collection room near the back of the business. He had died from a self-inflicted wound from the pistol-grip 12-guage shotgun, which was in his possession.
 
A semi-automatic .308 caliber rifle and a Colt .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun were also found at the scene. Robert Beiser also had extra ammunition magazines for the rifle and the handgun in his possession.
 
TPD said in the Wednesday release that the quick reactions of bystanders, who sought safety and shelter and were helpful to the responding officers, helped prevent further deaths or injuries at the scene.
 
The Department of Human Services is working with family members, TPD said, to determine who will provide care for the Beisers’ two children, identified by news reports as Nicole, 14, and Drew, 11.
 
The investigation is continuing.
 
Read the Wilsonville Spokesman's original coverage of the incident.

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