California veterans home hostage standoff: 3 women, gunman found dead
After an hours-long standoff between police and a gunman, three women (believed to be gunman's hostages) were found dead along with the suspect at a California veterans' home. The assailant struck at 10:20 am (local time) at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville in the Napa Valley, the largest veterans' home in the United States with around 1,000 former servicemen and women. Here's more.
A tragic piece of news: California Highway Patrol Captain
"Shortly before 6:00pm, law-enforcement personnel made entry into the room where we felt the hostages were being held by the suspect and unfortunately made the discovery of three deceased females and one deceased male suspect," said California Highway Patrol's Captain Chris Childs. "This is a tragic piece of news...we were really hoping we wouldn't have to come before the public to give," he added.
Public asked to avoid the area
The Napa County Sheriff's Office had earlier issued an advisory on social media telling people to avoid the area following reports of gunfire, as the California Highway Patrol had dispatched officers, air support, and a SWAT team to the site.
Deceased were employees of an on-site counseling service
Captain Childs said a sheriff's deputy who was first on the scene exchanged fire with the suspect, adding that "we credit him with saving the lives of others...by eliminating the ability for the suspect to go out and find further victims." The three victims were reportedly the employees of The Pathway Home, an on-site counseling service for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Gunman was on the PTSD treatment program earlier: Report
The San Francisco Chronicle said the gunman -apparently a 36-year-old war veteran wearing "a stash of bullets" around his neck and waist- was on the PTSD treatment program, adding that his weapon was a rifle. It quoted California State Senator Bill Dodd as identifying the program's Executive Director, Christine Loeber, as being among the dead, although the victims' names haven't been officially released.
Unclear whether women were targeted or randomly chosen
It wasn't immediately clear whether the victims were targeted or were chosen at random. Police did not say how they died, although local media, citing unnamed sources, reported that the assailant shot the three women before turning the gun on himself.
Gunman was calm, talked to everyone present
"It's a residential program so guys live in the building, staff work in the building," said Larry Kamer, whose wife Devereaux Smith was reportedly working there. Smith, The Pathway Home's Development Director, was among four women released by the gunman. Kamer said: "There was a going away party for a couple of the staff. Then he (gunman) apparently just walked in with this rifle."
Law enforcement authorities tried to contact gunman for several hours
The bodies were discovered after several fruitless attempts to contact the gunman by the sheriff's department, City of Napa Police, and the FBI. California Department of Veterans Affairs secretary Vito Imbasciani stated the agency was "devastated" by the deaths. "Our hearts are heavy for the entire Yountville Veterans Home community and the families and friends who are grieving for those who died," he added.
Nothing matters more than caring for our veterans, employees: Imbasciani
California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Vito Imbasciani stated: "Nothing matters more than caring for our veterans and employees during this difficult time. We appreciate the tremendous law enforcement response today and unfailing support of this community."
