Police: Evidence Says Alleged Shooter Planned Attack

Summary

Police say Naveed Haq bought two handguns 10 days before the attack, then picked his target searching the Internet for 'something Jewish.'

Story Published: Jul 31, 2006 at 1:40 PM PST

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 7:32 AM PST

Police: Evidence Says Alleged Shooter Planned Attack
SEATTLE - Police say there is evidence alleged Jewish Federation shooter Naveed Haq planned the shootings well in advance.

He bought two handguns, waited 10 days to get them, and picked them up just the day before the shooting, police say.

Investigators say the Muslim man found his target on the Internet searching for "something Jewish".

Police say he forced his way inside the building and started firing both handguns. After killing one and wounding five, he revealed his motive to a 911 operator.

"He said he wanted the United States to leave Iraq," says Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske, "that his people were being mistreated and that the United States was arming Israel and he pointedly blamed the Jewish people for all of these problems."

By the time he surrendered to police 12 minutes later, investigators say Haq's rage seemed to dissipate.

Within hours, detectives traveled to Eastern Washington to begin a search of Haq's apartment in Kennewick and his parents' home in Pasco. Haq's father helped found a Muslim Mosque there.

Some friends say this is not the Haq they knew.

"(He) played football, you know tennis, listened to country music wore a cowboy hat, he was just an all-American kid," said Imran Ullah.

Others say a worsening mental illness left Haq isolated, frustrated and unemployed.

"He had some emotional problems that overlaid so he couldn't fit in our society," Larry Stephenson said.

Haq is being held on an almost unheard of $50 million bail. Prosecutors say they expect to file formal charges on Wednesday of one count of murder and 5 counts of attempted murder.