WASHINGTON—Fredric V. Rolando, president of the 300,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers, today expressed outrage on behalf of the postal union at the tragic shooting death of Cleveland letter carrier Daniel Kondas as he was delivering the mail in Maple Heights, Ohio.

“This is a senseless and outrageous tragedy for the family and friends of Brother Kondas, his fellow NALC members in Cleveland and the entire postal community,” Rolando said. “They all have the deepest sympathy of our union.”

Rolando said Kondas had just started delivering mail when the shooting occurred.

“Unfortunately, many letter carriers across the nation are often confronted with unforeseen dangers as they go about their work,” he added. “These dangers at times include violent criminal acts such as occurred in Cleveland.”

Kondas, a 23-year veteran of the Postal Service and a member of NALC Branch 40 in Cleveland, was shot in the back of the head Thursday morning shortly after he began his route. He died later in the day. The 53-year-old resident of Garfield Heights, Ohio, was the only caregiver for his mother.