Gunman who shot 2, injured 2 others believed dead

By KOMO Staff Published: Oct 27, 2012 at 4:21 PM PDT Last Updated: Oct 28, 2012 at 12:20 AM PDT
Gunman who shot 2, injured 2 others believed dead
RENTON, Wash. -- A man who police say shot two people and injured two others in two separate cities was apparently found with a fatal self-inflicted gun shot wound a few hours later, police said.

Renton police say 48-year-old John L. McKay shot a man and "pistol-whipped" two others inside a Renton home in the 4100 block of NE 5th Street. The shooting victim was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition while the two others were taken to Valley Medical Center.

Police say the shooting victim was targeted by McKay because he is his estranged wife's new boyfriend. Investigators say the other victims were McKay's estranged wife and another person at the home.

"We don't know what precipitated the shootings... what led up to them," said Sgt. Cindi West with the King County Sheriff's Office.


John L. McKay
McKay then went to the house of his former in-laws in the 13400 block of 209th Ave SE in the unincorporated King County area near Issaquah, West said.

McKay kicked in the door, chased down his former mother-in-law and shot her, West said.

The victim was able to make it from her back patio over to her next door neighbor's driveway where she collapsed and neighbors called 911. She was rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition but West said the victim is expected to survive.

"We're very grateful that they were paying attention so that she didn't fall out on the lawn and die with nobody knowing," West said.

Neighbors couldn't believe the news.

"Everybody's her friend," said Craig Johnston. "She doesn't have an enemy in the world and that is what makes this even more surprising."

Meanwhile, McKay drove away from the scene and a manhunt was under way, police said.

But later Saturday evening, McKay's car was found in the 13000 block of Martin Luther King Way Jr., S. with a body inside. West says the man inside had died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

It's believed to be McKay but West said but official identification must come from the medical examiner's office.

McKay had a prior conviction in June of this year for felony domestic violence harassment and in July he was arrested for malicious mischief.

Renton neighbors say they were aware McKay and his wife had split up and say he was angry about it and would vent to them often. But they say they had no idea his anger would escalate to such violence.