Family: Accused Parks Dept. shooter was paranoid; faced gun charge
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SEATTLE -- To hear a family member tell it, Carolyn Piksa's life has been challenging in ways many cannot understand.
Piksa was arrested Friday afternoon, hours after police say she shot and severely injured Bill Keller at at Seattle Parks maintenance center.
"A lot of events that have led up to this situation," said nephew Cody Shearer.
Shearer said his aunt has been affected by emotional trouble and may have been for years. Piksa's sister Shelly was murdered in 1985. She was killed execution-style in a graveyard in Pierce County after the shooter killed Shelly's husband.
But Shearer said recent trouble may have been the turning point.
"She started to develop paranoia and she expressed to me that she felt unsafe in her home," he said.
The family and several neighbors say Piksa's house in Burien was broken into this past July. Shearer said his aunt's beloved dog Roulette was killed during the crime.
Mailman Arthur Conley said Piksa hasn't been the same since.
"That's two different people. I don't know what happened in her life," Conley said.
Conley said she looked haggard Thursday during his rounds.
"She didn't look me in the eye," he said. "She looked down into the ground and was apologizing and it's like she was just numb."
Shearer saw a change, too.
"The way she acted, the way she talked, her body language, it all changed from that point," Shearer said.
Shearer also said his aunt ran into criminal trouble in Oregon. Marion County court records show that Piksa was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in November. A warrant was issued for failure to appear in December.
Shearer said the family filed a missing persons report after seeing erratic behavior. Blankets and clothing were found inside the truck parked at her home.
"She has been staying in her vehicle," Shearer said.
This nephew loves his aunt, but knows the future may be as troubled as the past.
"Just to ensure that all the information is out there and that she has a fair trial," he said.
Piksa was arrested Friday afternoon, hours after police say she shot and severely injured Bill Keller at at Seattle Parks maintenance center.
"A lot of events that have led up to this situation," said nephew Cody Shearer.
Shearer said his aunt has been affected by emotional trouble and may have been for years. Piksa's sister Shelly was murdered in 1985. She was killed execution-style in a graveyard in Pierce County after the shooter killed Shelly's husband.
But Shearer said recent trouble may have been the turning point.
"She started to develop paranoia and she expressed to me that she felt unsafe in her home," he said.
The family and several neighbors say Piksa's house in Burien was broken into this past July. Shearer said his aunt's beloved dog Roulette was killed during the crime.
Mailman Arthur Conley said Piksa hasn't been the same since.
"That's two different people. I don't know what happened in her life," Conley said.
Conley said she looked haggard Thursday during his rounds.
"She didn't look me in the eye," he said. "She looked down into the ground and was apologizing and it's like she was just numb."
Shearer saw a change, too.
"The way she acted, the way she talked, her body language, it all changed from that point," Shearer said.
Shearer also said his aunt ran into criminal trouble in Oregon. Marion County court records show that Piksa was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in November. A warrant was issued for failure to appear in December.
Shearer said the family filed a missing persons report after seeing erratic behavior. Blankets and clothing were found inside the truck parked at her home.
"She has been staying in her vehicle," Shearer said.
This nephew loves his aunt, but knows the future may be as troubled as the past.
"Just to ensure that all the information is out there and that she has a fair trial," he said.
It sounds like easy access to guns continue to be the problem in our society. But then again, I am just a lib who doesn't understand freedom.  BUT I UNDERSTAND LIVING!!
@Socialjusticeforall Yes, let's just ignore these facts and blame the gun....
"A lot of events that have led up to this situation," said nephew Cody Shearer. Shearer said his aunt has been affected by emotional trouble and may have been for years. Piksa's sister Shelly was murdered in 1985. "She started to develop paranoia and she expressed to me that she felt unsafe in her home," he said.
Seriously, you people are unbelievable in your anti-gun rants. Â And for the record, I don't own a gun myself, but I Â know they are not the problem.Â
@Socialjusticeforall If your idea of "living" is existing under the faux protection of your government, and relying on them for your and your family's safety? Good luck with that. As for my family and myself, we'll enjoy living free, rights intact, and with the ability to provide our own protection.
Sounds as though she'll be getting away with it.Â
Hmmmmm
I feel bad for everyone involved. Reading the story about her and her families past in The Seattle Times is just heart wrenching. Life is rough and some are plunged into the depths of despair.
I do hope Mr. Keller recovers swiftly.
Fact: One out of Four people in the US have or will develope mental illness. Out of those maybe 7% commit a violent crime like this. Clearly this is a tragedy on many levels. It shows the failure of our mental health system (which I have worked in for 40 years now). In stead of getting help at the community level, she will now get help from the criminal Forensic mental health system. Sad. But what is even sadder? The amount of misconceptions, misinformation and misperceptions, the amount of stigma that is attached to Mental Illness is on display here in the comments.
@Libradad Maybe the govt will fix it by prescribing pharms for every American......you'd make a great salesman.....
@LibradadOne out of four? That should give you some clue about how phony psychiatry is to begin with. If that doesn't, watch these:Â
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=rRDz4BT3DAs#t=24s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZNwtmhoBjME#t=22s
@NW-Economist @Libradad No less than half of these psychological "experts" are crazy, too.
What does unlawful possession of a firearm mean, did she own the gun and not register it?
@joefuss In most states it is illegal to possess a concealed firearm without a permit. Since they don't mention her being a felon most likely she was carrying it concealed.
Rocks are particularly effective in the right hands. Dropping them off an overpass fer instance.
"Just to ensure that all the information is out there and that she has a fair trial," he said.
Fair trial? Tell that to the Tuba Man! 'Fair' in this state means all ya can get away with.
@bobalouie Did you pay attention to the "tuba man" trial. The kids got off because witnesses refused to cooperate. Because of the witnesses failure to cooperate the prosecution couldn't charge them with murder, only manslaughter which translates to a lighter sentence.Â
Learn the facts, which are public record, before you comment.
@bobalouie Really? I don't see how considering judges issue maximum sentences and throw the book all people all the time. I don't see how your claim can be accurate? Judges have to rule what the RCW dictates and assign sentences within that. If you want to blame someone, blame our Founding Fathers who wrote the wrote the rules hundreds of years ago. They are all dead, you can't change the rules so you might as well just shut up and put up with it.Â
That's pretty tragic what happened to her. Maybe she shot Bill because he scared her, seems like the only logical reason to me. To be honest, after having your husband and sister both shot, your dog shot and a burglary in your own home, yea.. I'd be super scared too and would have definitely moved already. I'm not excusing her shooting this man, but can understand WHY she did (well, assuming she shot him cuz she was scared)... otherwise there is no justifiable explanation. Â
If I wanted to kill someone because I was crazy, vindictive, or otherwise, there are a myriad number of "weapons" I could use: poison, knife, axe, fire, vehicle (yes people try to run others over), bombs (including and especially the home made sort), etc, etc. My point is any weapon can be deadly, and many things that are not weapons can become weapons and be just as deadly. Guns are only prominent in the news because they are a hot button.Â
If you leave poison lying around, it could be deadly to a young kid, hence the need to lock it up.Â
Now, one can argue that guns are more dangerous than other weapons as they can accidentally discharge as in this article. But accidents can happen with things as "simple" as lighters too. And how about "fun" fireworks? M100's anyone?
Ultimately if someone is determined to do harm, they will find a way.
Anything potentially dangerous to life and limb in the hands of the wrong person can cause harm up to and including death. The crux of the issue, that I am fairly certain everyone agrees with is this: how to keep them out of the hands of people who do not have the judgement to meticulously prevent accidents, as well as those that are intending to do bodily harm with them. The conundrum is HOW.Â
Sorry, but I don't believe that "mental illness" can cause shootings. People are mentally ill all over the whole world. So then, where are all the crazy "mentally ill" people going on shooting rampages in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Austria, etc?
That theory is therefore debunked. Try again, soft-on-crime liberals. Crime is crime and must be punished harshly. Mental illness is not a valid excuse.
@Whobeke You should take a look at suicide statistics in those countries.Â
@Whobeke Until you walk a mile in someone elses shoes....I'm not one to soft-pedal acts of violence, but given her past, it is a bit much for someone to deal with. I wouldn't wish upon anyone what I read about her family in The Seattle Times.
I wish she hadn't had access to a gun and a bit more of a support system. Her family does appear to care about her but she also lives alone. Not the ideal circumstance for someone with her past and events which have occured.
@Whobeke Well I know in japan a man wend on a bus a few years back and stabbed a bunch of teenagers. You are entitled to your own opinion but you have no authority to clam it is debunked. Murders do happen in those countries with mentally insane people. I bet you have not seen any real insane people before.
@Whobeke Dude, nobody is saying we are "soft on crime." It has nothing to do with Obama, Romney, liberal or not- you conservative idiot! All people have a choice- to shoot or not to shoot, to drive drunk or not to drive drunk, etc. It has no bearing on political views- anyone can commit a crime, and we are holding criminals accountable. Nobody is saying we're not. So, you can take your conservative VS liberal claims and toss them out, because they are not relevant.Â
yes mental illness can cause shootings. especially if they are not being treated or have a support system, As it sounds like this lady. Have worked in mental health for 12 years trust me a person in crisis is capable of doing anything.
@Ocean Â
Nope. We've already debunked this notion. Like I noted earlier, mental illness is a global CONSTANT - it exists world-wide. But shootings (especially mass-shootings) are not a global constant, especially not at the rate the US has them. Â
Therefore, we can discard the notion that mental illness causes shootings. If that were true - if the null hypothesis were correct - we'd see shootings all over the world of this nature. But we do not. Â
@Whobeke
Sounds like you might need some counseling there friend..
@Whobeke @OceanWorldwide, you mean like in scandanavia? Or how about Afghanistan or Iraq or China or Russia? Do you even care that you lie constantly?Â
How many of these WEREN'T in the US?Â
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/timeline-worst-mass-shootings-globe-article-1.1220608
Can you please tell everyone where the worst mass shooting in human history occurred? (here's a hint, it wasn't in the US)
@Whobeke @Ocean If being mentally ill is a global constant, then the variable is the degree to which everyone is mentally ill.  This person was obviously on the high end of the scale.
@Whobeke Seriously though, where are all the shooting rampages in those countries? Well, let's see. Japan and South Korea have extremely strict gun control, as does Singapore. And Austria isn't far behind them either. Gee, I dunno, maybe regulating lethal weapons actually works.  Â
@lakeview @Whobeke Were you aware that Japan's suicide rate is nearly double the US? China's is even higher... Japan has a completely different culture than the US. Japan is a very polite society, the US? well, not so much. They will kill themselves quick enough though, and they dont need guns to do that. Why do you think guns have anything to do with murder rates? Look at Mexico...guess what, different culture, yet again! Quit trying to compare apples to oranges.
@lakeview @WhobekeMaybe you're lying again, oops here come real facts! Darn...
http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=17847
Apparently Bakedview wants us to import Australia's rape statistics, fun times...
@Whobeke Well for one they have way less population than ours.
@Whobeke @NW-Economist @lakeviewROFL, nice try, but you can't cherry pick statistics like that, the rest of those violent crimes definitely are comparable. Sexual assault = rape.Â
Next thing you'll start debating the definition of "is."Â
@NW-Economist@lakeview@WhobekeÂ
Australia's murder rate (and murder is the only crime comparable across jurisdictions due to reporting differences for other crimes) is over 4.5 times lower than the US rate. Â
How do you explain THAT?
I explain it via culture. Americans are simply more naturally prone to break the sixth commandment. I don't know why this is the case, but the evidence is overwhelming.@lakeview@WhobekeÂ
Actually, more guns means LESS crime:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/More_Guns,_Less_Crime
This makes it all the more perplexing how these nations are able to keep murder and other crimes so far underneath US levels, despite their citizens being disarmed and therefore defenseless against armed criminals.
It may simply be the case that Americans as a whole are uniquely violent or criminal-minded among the people living in developed nations. While sad, we may need to face facts here.
@Whobeke @lakeview You have the logic of a four year old. It's amazing how you're able to sum up humans in three sentences, get bent
@lakeview @Whobeke Â
I think Americans are simply more violent and "hair trigger" than any group of people outside of the third-world or the former Soviet states, to be honest. Â
Not many people realize it, but the US actually has a higher rate of knife murder than England. Americans are just a violent people, but at least making firearms available for self-defense means that many Americans can protect themselves against the predations of their fellow countrymen.
It's sad that such a thing is so necessary to begin with, but, like Rumsfeld said, you go to war with the army (in this case, populace)Â you have, not the one you wish you had.Â
@Whobeke @lakeview And how many of those "murders" involved guns? Maybe you should compare something like stabbing deaths. Â
And all joking aside, I do agree with your basic premise that certain countries are more violent than others. But saying that America would be more dangerous with fewer guns is quite a stretch and depends on how you define dangerous. Would stabbings increase? Maybe, but guns are much more dangerous than knives.Â
@lakeview @Whobeke Â
Well, what we can conclude is that with guns, countries like Japan and Singapore would be even safer. And without guns, America would be even more dangerous. Â
For as safe as Hong Kong (for example) is, it still had 17 murders last year among its 7 million people. Â
That rate would be unimaginably low for an American city (NYC has 8.3 million and around 475 murders per year, and that's considered "not bad" by US standards), but Professor Lott's work suggests that if its citizens were armed and could legally carry concealed firearms, Hong Kong's murders per year might drop from the 15-20 range down to 5-10 or even lower, which would be a monumental achievement in human history in terms of crime reduction in a large urban area.
That's what I mean.
@Whobeke @lakeview So your response is that more guns means less crime, and then the first thing you admit is that that model isn't actually true? Â
Compelling argument. Â
@Whobeke Um, without the mental illness boogieman, what will the NRA do? Â
Wow, sad story, and it explains a lot of her irrational behavior. Â Sounds like she finally snapped. Â Hope she gets some mental health care.
@Doxie Â
People don't just "snap," though that particular way of framing crime is often used by defense lawyers in order for their clients to evade punishment. Unfortunately, some judges and jurors actually fall for it.
@Whobeke @Doxie You don't know anything you are not a psychologist.
@Whobeke @Doxie Whobeke, who are you to make claims like this? Are you a perfect person, you uptight conservative a**hole! If you are so perfect, please tell me where you live because I want to come meet you, shake your hand and get your autograph. You'd be the only perfect person I've ever met in my life, maybe we should notify ABC so you can tell the world how perfect you are and that no mistakes ever apply to your life. Holy cow, you should get a gold medal! People do SNAP. Imagine how mentally messed up you would be if your spouse, sibling, and dog were all shot and your house got broken into- anyone would be messed up mentally, and probably paranoid as well. Makes perfect sense to me, stop your stupid attacking claims! YOU JERK.
@Whobeke @Doxie I didn't mean it like that, mental issues were apparently coming for a long time and they finally arrived.
i can never figure U ppl out. Â sometimes you want to kill everyone and other times U want 2 make them victims. Â and all with little 2 no info. Â how do U do it?
@Sissy Whobeke tries to throw up valid claims, but ends up irritating people because his claims are totally not relevant, inaccurate, and don't hold any value. He claims Obama is the source of problem but people were messed up before Obama, and Obama has no grounds whether is crime is committed or not commit... him nor any other president (Romney, Nadar, whomever) cannot stop crimes from happening. All they can to is restrict access to things like guns, enforce harsher penalties, etc to try to an decrease crime but they cannot single-handedly prevent it like Whobeke thinks they can.Â
The question remains: why did she take it out on Bill?
@Komo Dragon Didn't you read the article? She's the victim here.Â
Perhaps a momentary respite from the gun/pharma/justice debates to consider the rough road of the nephew quoted in the story. At age 2 he was found hypothermic and clinging to the bodies of his parents, who had been robbed and murdered in their home. He's taken in by relatives, presumably his aunt being one, and now this.