Wakefield Mourns

Police had been searching for Michael McDermott 36 hours before his alleged shooting spree that took seven lives, according to two Boston newspapers. One report says the Haverhill police began looking for him after uncovering evidence he had test fired a shotgun that may have been used later in the killings.

The search was prompted by a resident who heard "five to seven" shotgun blasts late Christmas Eve. McDermott's car, with its distinctive "Mucko" license plate, was spotted on a street where two spent shotgun shells were found but officers were unable to locate him until he was arrested for for killing seven co-workers on Tuesday.

The Boston Herald reports that Haverhill police came within moments of confronting McDermott in the area but he had already left the area.

"With a little bit of luck, we could have changed history," said Haverhill police Sgt. Stephen Brighi. "The officers literally came within moments of confronting him there but he had already left the area."

Another report says police are investigating a telephone call McDermott received just minutes before the shootings.

The Boston Globe, quoting a source familiar with the call, says a Chrysler Financial supervisor told McDermott that his 1994 Plymouth Acclaim was going to be repossessed.

"I won't be needing it; come pick it up," he is said to have answered.

Three minutes later the shootings began and a law enforcement source said Thursday that state police are investigating any possible connection between the call and the slayings

McDermott had already been informed that the Internal Revnue Service was going to seize a large portion of his pay for back taxes and there is speculation that the call may have been the last straw because of his financial worries.

Hundreds of mourners fought bitter cold Thursday night at an interfaith memorial service for the seven people killed in the office rampage.

The service took place at St. Joseph's Church across the street from Edgewater Technology, Inc. It is the same church where workers fled to seek refuge from what prosecutors called the killer's methodical rampage.

Police had to turn away scores of mourners as the church quickly filled to its 800-seat capacity well before the 7 p.m. service began.

In the service, Cardinal Bernard Law of Boston's Roman Catholic Archdiocese said, "We pray that out of this unspeakable tragedy, we may resolve to recognize, each one of us, the inviolable dignity of each human being."

Flowers, pictures and notes piled up in a ritual of public grief outside Edgewater's corporate headquarters and the company set up one of several funds for the victims' families.

The victims' families, and their co-workers, are struggling to absorb the tragedy and CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston reports that company officials are having grief counselling sessions.

Robert O'Leary's desk was just eight feet from accused gunman Michael McDermott. On the morning after Christmas, he said, McDermott was in a good mood.

"He was working at his desk. I saw him sitting there. It was the day after Christmas so I went over and talked to him," O'Leary said. "We talked about movies, games."

"I never saw an inkling of a problem," he added. "He (McDermott) was a big, friendly guy."

On McDermott's desk sat a gym bag. Hidden inside were weapons and ammunition that McDermott would allegedly use minutes later, Correspondent Pinkston also reports. When the carnage began at the other end of the building, O'Leary was frozen in terror.

It took just eight minutes to kill the seven co-workers who were murdered.

"I could have reached down and touched it," O'Leary said of the bag. "If only I could have seen something."

"It took him 45 seconds to get to the mezzanine, plenty of time for warning," he added. "I could have distracted him or something … I got out. I doubt I'll ever stop wondering about it."

It is a recurring nightmare for O'Leary and everyone touched by the tragedy. Dennis Wood lost his oldest brother Craig.

"As we got older we became…" Wood said, "We became …best friends."

Wood said his son was "loved by everybody, just a super-fine kid."
He lerned of his oldest son's death from his youngest son, Brian. As he absorbed his loss, William Wood suddenly realized a blessing — Brian also works for Edgewater Technology.

"Brian, my youngest, who worked part-time with Craig up at the company and who, thank God, went in late, or I could have lost both of my sons in the same day," Wood said.

Craig Wood's baby shoes are under the Christmas tree now. Next week, they will be placed on top of his casket.