Police ID Victim, Gunman In Voorhees Murder-Suicide
By Steve Beck and Todd Quinones
VOORHEES, N.J. (CBS) – A former doctor at a Camden County hospital fatally shot his one-time co-worker before taking his own life early Wednesday morning, police said.
The deadly incident began at about 7:30 a.m. on Avalon Court in Voorhees, New Jersey.
According to investigators, 32-year-old Payman Houshmandpour, who was a doctor at Virtua Voorhees Hospital, had just entered his car and was on his way to work when he was ambushed by a former colleague and doctor, 39-year-old Giocondo Navek.
"Mr. Navek came up and fired multiple times through the window, killing him," Jason Laughlin of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office explained.
Navek then got into his own car and drove away from the scene. Using a description of Navek's car provided by eyewitnesses, police spotted Navek driving and pulled him over at Centennial Boulevard.
Laughlin said as officers approached his vehicle, Navek pulled out a gun and shot himself.
Navek was taken to Virtua Voorhees Hospital where he later died.
According to investigators, Houshmandpour and Navek worked at Virtua together up until a little over a year ago, when Navek lost his job.
Officials at Virtua released a statement regarding the incident:
"Dr. Payman Houshmandpour, who expired outside of his home this morning, was a resident who worked at various Virtua locations on medical/surgical rotations. The individual who expired at the hospital was a former resident and has not worked at Virtua for nearly 1-1/2 years. The situation is under investigation by the Camden County Prosecutor's office and further questions about today's actions should be directed to that office. At this time we are working closely with our staff to address their concerns and also to meet the needs of our patients. Our condolences are extended to the families of both men during this very tragic situation."
Neighbors told Eyewitness News that Houshmandpour was married and had a child.
The motive surrounding the deadly shooting remains under police investigation.
