A nonagenarian Morgan Stanley financial advisor walked into a business associate’s office in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon and fired multiple shots that left the victim critically wounded.
The alleged assailant, 90-year-old Leonard Bernstein, arrived at the company’s offices “unexpectedly” and allegedly fired at his business partners several times, after which he calmly got into his car and drove away. Officers were able to stop and apprehend him soon afterward.
“Police arrived, they found one person shot multiple times,” Sgt. Dillon Quirk with Oklahoma City Police Department told local TV affiliate News9. “The victim was transported to a local hospital expected to be OK, expected to survive.”
According to the report, police taped off the crime scene and started a search for the suspected shooter.
“Officers were in the area and were able to spot that vehicle,” Quirk said. “Make a traffic stop on it and ultimately take the suspect into custody.”
The station noted that a sign outside the office at the Waterford business complex indicated it was closed due to “unforeseen circumstances.”
“There were several witnesses there that indicated that the suspect had walked in, fired several rounds at that victim, left in his own personal vehicle,” Quirk added. “They gave a name and a vehicle description.”
Possible motive
“Bernstein and the victim worked together for nine months,” News9 said. “Due to the elderly man’s declining health, he handed over his accounts to his business partner. However, police said it was unclear what went wrong, if anything.”
Upon his arrest, Bernstein was taken to police headquarters, interviewed, and then booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, Quirk concluded. He could be charged with shooting with intent to kill and was on a $50,000 bond.
With more than 20 years serving financial markets, John Sullivan is the former editor-in-chief of Investment Advisor magazine and retirement editor of ThinkAdvisor.com. Sullivan is also the former editor of Boomer Market Advisor and Bank Advisor magazines, and has a background in the insurance and investment industries in addition to his journalism roots.