Director of assisted living home shot in Stanwood
STANWOOD, Wash. -- The director of a Stanwood assisted living facility was seriously injured in a shooting at the home on Monday afternoon, and detectives believe an 86-year-old resident is the shooter.
The incident occurred at the Josephine Sunset Home, located in the 9900 block of 272nd Place NW, just after 3 p.m.
Snohomish County sheriff's spokeswoman Shari Ireton said a resident who had gotten into an argument with the director earlier in the day returned with a gun and opened fire.
The 59-year-old victim was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in critical but stable condition.
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested an 86-year old man thought to be responsible for the shooting. Detectives say he will booked into the Snohomish County Jail for 1st degree assault.
"Everyone's safe. This was an isolated incident," said Terry Robertson, CEO of the facility.
Robertson said the facility does not allow firearms, but did not elaborate on how the suspected gunman gained access to the weapon.
"That could be part of the investigation. I can't really speak to that but our policy is no handguns, no rifles, no any firearm of any kind," Robertson said.
The state Department of Social and Health Services planned to launch its own investigation. A spokesman for the department said the shooting happened in the assisted living side of the building, where the suspect lived.
About 55 people live on that side of the building, and 150 others live in the nursing home section. There's also a child center, but no one else was injured during the shooting.
The incident occurred at the Josephine Sunset Home, located in the 9900 block of 272nd Place NW, just after 3 p.m.
Snohomish County sheriff's spokeswoman Shari Ireton said a resident who had gotten into an argument with the director earlier in the day returned with a gun and opened fire.
The 59-year-old victim was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in critical but stable condition.
Snohomish County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested an 86-year old man thought to be responsible for the shooting. Detectives say he will booked into the Snohomish County Jail for 1st degree assault.
"Everyone's safe. This was an isolated incident," said Terry Robertson, CEO of the facility.
Robertson said the facility does not allow firearms, but did not elaborate on how the suspected gunman gained access to the weapon.
"That could be part of the investigation. I can't really speak to that but our policy is no handguns, no rifles, no any firearm of any kind," Robertson said.
The state Department of Social and Health Services planned to launch its own investigation. A spokesman for the department said the shooting happened in the assisted living side of the building, where the suspect lived.
About 55 people live on that side of the building, and 150 others live in the nursing home section. There's also a child center, but no one else was injured during the shooting.
I guess the old guy couldn't get a ride to the gun buy back.
Why does such a small facility need a CEO ? The Josephine Sunset home has changed a lot since I was a kid living in that neighborhood in the 1960's.
 @joefuss old people are big business. Catholic Charities, SHAG, Korean Women ASSN, Lutheran Seniors, and Stafford are a few big players that come to mind. It's a sweet deal because clients are self pay, insurance and/or government funded.
I can't imagine being at work and having someone come up and shoot you. Horrifying. I hope he fully recovers.
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It matters not what "mitigating" circumstances involved; shooting him was not warranted. Those that have posted negatively about this director seem to feel he brought it on himself. If that logic were true, how many people in the workplace around you would these people feel justifiably should be shot?
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I do not condone mistreatment of any human, elderly and kids especially. But if people were truly aware of factual mistreatment by the director & did not report it, they are as much to blame because they should have reported it to the State as is their duty. The State absolutely will investigate every report.
I have worked in long-term care for the past thirty-two years.  There will never be justification for violence in any workplace...That said I have known many wonderful residents...and I have worked with many wonderful people who give of their time, knowledge and hearts to care for these people.  Hours long and hard both "on the clock" and "off the clock. Times have changed..there are many angry people who have suffered many losses..loss of their independence, of their abilities to simply care for themselves..loss of their homes, ability to drive, the ability to navigate their own lives.  They live by rules. Many are sad, or lonely, and some are just plain angry. Many have mental health issues. The administrator in this situation is known to many as a dedicated professional, an outgoing, friendly, family man who also happened to be a Christian. He might be the first to forgive...he and his family as well as the "shooter " deserve our thoughts and prayers! On the other hand some Directors of Nursing are passive abusers because they are afraid to fire caregivers or nurses who do bully because they may "call the state"...it is a long sad situation...our care of the elderly and those who try to give their best.
 @RaggedyAnne i want to thank you for your kind so true words about my uncle the comments about it be a bad place if it was a horrible place we would of never put my grandma in there. he gave me my first job at cascade senior living so it is a hard place to work sometimes but he never treated them with out kindness.
 @ab  @RaggedyAnne ab, thank you so very much for posting & I've been praying for your uncle as well as all who were affected by this. I had a wonderful friend who lived at Josephine for many years before passing away & I'd visit him nearly every day & most days, it was all day. It's incredible to read others' comments regarding bad experiences they or their loved one may have had at Josephine. Not only did my friend have the best of care, the caregivers became his friends and therefore, mine. I got to know several of them quite well & always looked forward to my visits there. My friend was treated with respect and dignity, making him feel as though he was with family and in many ways he was. Â
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Living in a care facility is very hard as it means the loss of the many things we all take for granted & the staff at Josephine is keenly aware how hard those losses are to take. I can say I witnessed true caring, even friendship from the staff & even though their hours are long & their work demanding, their focus is patient care and comfort.Â
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Both my parents were in nursing homes before passing & after seeing the care my friend received from those who cared for him at Josephine, I regret my parents weren't placed there also.Â
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Anyone having extra time on their hands might want to think about volunteering at a nursing home. No, you won't be emptying bed pans or the like but so many patients have no one who comes to see them & the lunch room is a great place to drop off interesting pictorial magazines, sit & listen to a patients' history & maybe even help the lunch/dinner crew. Believe me, you'll be the one walking away with more than you came with, including a deeper appreciation for all the staff does.Â
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 @Wishing1  @ab  @RaggedyAnne my dad was a patient there right before his death in 2009. I felt our family was treated very well during this difficult time.Â
As I get ready to go to work tonight, I can't help but to think if I should be wearing a bullet proof vest UNDER my scrubs tonight. Great.Â
Guess the West is still wild and the way to settle whatever your issue is takes a gun. This is just plain sad all the way around.
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I do hope we find out more about what set-off this man; there is alot of elder abuse going on.
I don't condone shooting someone but there are mitigating circumstances here that are not apparent in the article. In my opinion, both parties were victims. The elderly gentleman was in ill health and had been subjected to bullying on a regular basis by the director. My heart goes out to the families of both the director and the elderly gentleman. It is a tragedy that should not be handled callously.
 @CamanoIslander I assume then, that you had called the State hotline to report this bullying as it is a form of abuse. Because to post on a news forum and accuse someone of abusing an elderly man by "bullying" him is very serious, and leads me to feel you must have reported it prior to this date.
 @CamanoIslander I personally had some concerns with the director there a couple years ago regarding my mom.  I don't think or ever wished him shot, but I do believe he had some questionable manipulation happening, specifically involving my mom. I feel there are some ethical practices used in controlling and distributing medications to my mom.  At the time, it seemed not quite right.  (Josephine gets $500 per assisted living resident if the resident allows them to control and distribute their meds).  His direct involvement with the distributing seemed odd as he was the director, not the medic or nurse.Â
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I would never want his job, it is a very hard job.  A job not to be taken lightly. This position requires a lot of patience,and  respect for elders. We all are going to be there some day, and we would all want dignity and to not worry about being cared for when needed.
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I am sorry to hear about this happening. Guns should never have been a part of this. But maybe a investigation will flush out an audit... and maybe much needed improvements will be the result.
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 @CamanoIslander We have a family acoustic music band.  We offered to play music for the people there free of charge.  We are a professional band, who plays for other homes when we don't have other bookings.  Josephine passed us a stack of papers to fill out so they could do a background check on us!  Are you kidding me?  Two kids, a mom and dad, and they wanted us to swim through a sea of red tape.  Eleven pages each.  It seems like a depressing place there.  That's the very reason we offered to come play music for anyone who would enjoy it.  We played at the Stanwood Senior Center instead.  I can't help feeling bad for a man who lived 86 years.  Now this.Â
@seabear @CamanoIslander If you carefully follow DSHS rules, every volunteer in assisted living has to have a background check, tb test, etc. Licensed facilities have many more regulations that most people are aware of. It was very nice of your family to offer to volunteer and I just wanted to share this info with you. DSHS created these rules to protect the residents and this facility was following what is required. The other facilities you have volunteered at are not following WAC and can be cited for that. I am not saying I agree with DSHS, but that's the way it is now. It's sad for residents because they have less volunteers in most places
 @seabear  @CamanoIslander I forgot they also required advanced immunizations for my entire family before we could volunteer to share some music.  We all have our shots.  Their list was above and beyond what the public schools require.  Spooky.  I'm not defending the old man's actions.  I'm just sharing some facts.
 @Thunder  @seabear  @CamanoIslander Well we play at other nursing homes & never been asked for background check or anything.  That is ridiculous.  We offered to play at Josephine one time only.  For 1/2 hour.  It was not a volunteer positions  It's a sad to me when "protecting residents" takes away their rights.  I know they would have enjoyed our music.  Oh well.  I wouldn't put my mom there.
 @justmyopinion You are exactly right.
 @seabear  @CamanoIslander If you read the WAC's for boarding home licensing in WA, you will see that every employee or volunteer over the age of 12 has to have not only a background check, but a fingerprint (FBI) background check.
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They also must require you to have a 2-step TB test.
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This is not an option for them. It is the law.
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It sounds like they were planning to have you volunteer to play frequently therefore they were making sure you had all you needed to do so.
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If the State were to come in, they can ask for all of this information on anyone who works or volunteers there. No exceptions.
 @seabear I would have to say the director was taking his responsibility very seriously and looking out for his residents. With all the news about the flu that's going around killing people, it sounds to me like he was trying to protect them. why would that be considered bad? I say "good for him". I'm a musician too, and I think it's wonderful to share your music, but the director has an abligation to the residents, I wouldn't have a problem with that.
 @CamanoIslander Then the Director should be shot! There is no reason on this earth to bully an 86 year old man. I know Josephine all too well and can believe it. They are a big rip off to Elderly peoples savings, insurances, and dignity. My relative passed away there and was treated terribly and suffered for no reason. You should take your knowledge to the authorities for the defence of the 86 year old'!
86 year old suspect. Wow....wonder what his state of mind is and why does he have a gun at that facility?
@Powderhound
Often the people who live in assisted living facilities still have their homes. He may have gone to his home and gotten it. And depending on how independent he was, he could have been driving.
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The people who live in "assisted living" can actually be living as if it were a retirement apartment, without needing any assistance other than housekeeping and meals provided.Â
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So, to answer your question with a guess: I bet he went home to get it. Whether that day or thereabouts.
 @Powderhound Oh but people who know him are saying that he was "bullied" and somehow justified in shooting the woman. Guess people around him don't realize that one of the first signs of dementia is anger and paranoia.  He should have never had access to a weapon, and wondering how he was able to leave an assisted living facility like that. It's not an apartment building.Â
 @DT  @Powderhound An Assisted Living Facility is not a locked ward. The people who live there may receive care and assistance but are not prisoners and are free to come and go as they please.
 @Powderhound He will most likely end up in the forensic unit at Western State Hosp. Where you tax dollars will care for him, because he had a gun.
 @Blevnangels Doesn't answer my questions.
 @Larry William Harris  @Blevnangels Article is vague, wish we had more info.
 @Powderhound  @Blevnangels he left after getting into an arguement with the director earlier in the day and came back later with the gun.
 @Powderhound Difficult to tell if the gun was at the facility of not. The story says "...returned with a gun..." which could mean he left to obtain the gun. Or could mean he left to his room. I am not sure if there are any state or federal laws that prohibit firearms in these types of facilities.
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If the guy came back following an argument and open fire on the director, I would guess his state of mind was not all that stable. Then again psychology isn't my field.
Another day, another shooting. Welcome to America. Here's your Uzi, your feeling of entitlement and the name of a scumbag lawyer so you can sue your way to prosperity if things don't go your way. Living the dream.
we must get guards in every retirement home.
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We must also get guards in every rifle shooting range. Â If a decorated sniper couldn't protect himself with all his guns then who can. Â We need those guards in the rifle ranges.
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 @aintno1special and I hope some day someone will outlaw ignorant, paranoid gun owners!
 @aintno1special  @sunnysandiego So agree, responsible gun owners are not the problem...again MENTAL  ILLNESS...ring a bell anyone? It doesn't matter if you are 19, 26, or 86...who settles an argument real or imagined by shooting someone? Death is permanent.
 @sunnysandiego Have you checked the number of body bags in Chicago? One of the highest if not the highest per capita gun related homicides in the nation, yet one of the most strict gun laws on the books.
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Do I agree more guns is the answer? No...am I an owner of guns? Yes...am I paranoid that someone is going to hurt me that is why I own guns? No...Have I ever protected myself with a gun? Yes once and all I had to do is show my gun and the 2 guys with at least 1 knife turned the other way. Come to find out they robbed and stabbed someone later that evening(or at least someone similar to my description did).
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Focusing on the tool used instead of the issue at hand is an ignorant and totally ineffective method at solving the problem. But keep touting the "...we need more guns..." rhetoric, because it offers so much.
 @aintno1special  @Blevnangels ummmm are you paying attention here?
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the body bags are not getting fewer as more guns are getting purchased.
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and your nra has one solution, arm everyone and then some. Â
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Now that's just crazy talk....
 @Blevnangels So, because someone owns a gun they are all of a sudden paranoid? Wow!! Jump to conclusions often?
Prayers going out to the director and his/her family.
Good thing that resident had access to a gun....remmeber more guns makes everyone more safe.
 @Citizen#3457899654 Yes, who cares if the victim is stable or not. Let's make this into a gun debate!
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Oh by the way, your "good thing..." comments are almost as original as the "better ban..." comments.
 @Citizen#3457899654 Yep, and that's why gun crimes are so low in Chicago right now... (sarcasm)
 @Citizen#3457899654 Very few (good) people have access to guns in Mexico.  Have you been paying attention to what has been going on down there? Â
@sfvcyco @Citizen#3457899654 "STANWOOD, Wash"
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Last time I checked, Washington is quite a ways away from Mexico...
 @sfvcyco  @glad I don't live in king county vast majority of guns are made in the usa and vast majority of drugs are exported to the usa.
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don't believe me go verify for yourself
 @glad I don't live in king county  @sunnysandiego  @sfvcyco Really, all guns in Mexico are made in the USA?  LOL!!!!  You have no idea what you are talking about. Â
@sunnysandiego @sfvcyco @what? By the way, all the guns in mexico are made in the usa and all the drugs are exported to the usa. - You sir are a moron!
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 @sfvcyco  @what? apples and oranges
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third world country going through a major drug lord induced internal war with police/federal's is not the U.S..... so why compare us to them here?
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By the way, all the guns in mexico are made in the usa and all the drugs are exported to the usa. Â so your point was???
 @what?  @sfvcyco You just demonstrated what is called "missing the point". Â