The Nation - News from Dec. 15, 1988

A postal employee pulled a shotgun out at the main post office in New Orleans, wounded three people and holed up in the building with at least one hostage, authorities said. The gunman eluded police for about five hours before agents found him in a room used for coffeebreaks during a room-to-room search of the block-wide building, said FBI spokesman Volney Hayes. The gunman, who Hayes said was holding at least one hostage, fired two shots at agents, who then backed off. Earlier, Hayes said, the gunman got into an argument with a co-worker and pulled a weapon out of a bag. Authorities identified the gunman as Warren Murphy, about 40, a six-year postal worker.