Guard at Social Security Office Killed; Rejected Claimant Held

A man whose disability claim had been denied walked into a Social Security office Monday and fatally shot a security guard before surrendering, police said. A bystander was wounded.

Xioung Tou, 52, of Sacramento laid his gun on the guard’s desk and walked outside to give himself up, Lt. John Kane said. A 2-year-old boy believed to be his son was found outside, unharmed.

Xioung had filed a disability claim with the office that was rejected and currently on appeal before an administrative law judge, Social Security spokeswoman Susan Kost said, declining to elaborate.

The 2-year-old boy, who was in the suspect’s car, was placed in state custody. Xioung’s 3-year-old daughter was safe with relatives late Monday.

Witnesses ran out as the shooting started shortly after 11 a.m. One hurried down the block to a California Highway Patrol office and alerted officers, Kane said.

The guard, Vincente Pacificar, 56, died on the way to a hospital or shortly after arriving, Kane said. He worked for Paige’s Security.

The bystander, Huang Qu Hui, 70, was shot in the abdomen. He was in fair condition after surgery at the UC Davis Medical Center.