By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

Philip Rieke met his wife, Pam, while both were working at Intrieve Inc., a technology solutions provider to the banking industry that has offices in downtown Cincinnati.

The couple married about 10 years ago, built a large home on a wooded lot in Clermont County's Union Township and had a son, relatives said.

Mrs. Rieke, who was involved with training and installation at Intrieve, left the company in 1996 and took a job as a business skills manager at United Cerebral Palsy's (UCP) offices in Avondale. There, she met Alan Lawson, a therapist for the human services agency who also was married and had young son.

Recently, Mr. Rieke suspected his wife was having an affair with Mr. Lawson, according to a police report.

On Sunday morning, Mr. Rieke went to UCP's building on Victory Parkway with a gun.

"I've got two people shot; it's a murder-suicide," said Mrs. Rieke in a calm voice during 911 call at 11:18 a.m. Sunday. "My husband is dead. He shot himself. I was at work with a co-worker. My husband came in, shot my co-worker, then shot himself."

There was no warning, she added.

Mrs. Rieke never mentioned that she, too, had been shot - in the leg - by her husband. But her voice became more agitated as she waited for help to arrive.

Neighbors, family members and co-workers of both Mr. Lawson and the Riekes expressed shock and sadness in the wake of the shootings.

William Powell was stunned when told Mr. Lawson had been shot to death. Mr. Powell lives two houses from Mr. Lawson's Silverton home and is a cousin of his wife.

"He was real friendly," Mr. Powell said. "There's nothing bad we can say about him."

Mr. Rieke's colleagues and relatives were equally stunned about the violent turn of events.

"This is very un-Phil," said Pam Gray, Mr. Rieke's sister. "He would do anything for anybody."

Said Intrieve chief operating officer Beth Basil, "It is entirely out of character for Phil. In his long history, he was a respected and trusted and loyal employee."

Mr. Rieke, 37, was assistant vice president of technical development at Intrieve, where he had worked since 1984. He did computer programming and technical troubleshooting, and assisted in developing interfaces, Ms. Basil said.

Mrs. Rieke, 35, did not answer her door Monday. She was treated for the gunshot wound to the leg at University Hospital Sunday and released.

The UCP office is closed for the holidays, and the local agency's director, William Minor, has declined comment on the shootings.

Meanwhile, Intrieve had a counseling session for employees on Monday.

William A. Weathers and Jane Prendergast contributed to this story. E-mail daveck@fuse.net