Texas murder suicide: George Vallikappill identified as shooter, Reena Ajit Koshy dead
A man who murder his female co-worker at the Texas Medical Center before fatally turning the gun on himself was identified by Harris County medical examiners as George Vallikappill, 58. The woman, Reena Ajit Koshy, 42, may have rejected the man’s romantic advances according to authorities.
Vallikappill and the woman were employees at Ben Taub General Hospital’s outpatient pharmacy. Reena was a pharmacist; he was a pharmacy tech, hospital officials confirmed Thursday. Houston police said the woman was in her work station behind the counter when Vallikappill walked up behind her and opened fire.
Two customers were in the pharmacy at the time, but did not witness the shooting, according to Houston police spokesperson John Cannon. Immediately after shooting the woman, Vallikappill shot himself only a few feet away. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 9-millimeter handgun was recovered, though it was not immediately clear how the shooter obtained the firearm or whether he owned it. Authorities were reviewing security video taken during the incident.
The two employees had worked together at the pharmacy for several years, but Cannon said the shooter was trying to take the relationship “to another level,” though it was not clear if he was trying to pursue a romantic involvement.
“In recent days or weeks, he had tried to ‘enhance’ their friendship or relationship,” he said.
The shooting did not affect hospital trauma or emergency services, as the pharmacy is located in a separate building from the main hospital, Cannon added.