Gunman kills 3 in multiple shootings in Moscow
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 10 years AGO
MOSCOW (AP) - A gunman killed three people and critically wounded another during a spree at three locations in Moscow, authorities said.
The suspect, 29-year-old John Lee, was captured Saturday afternoon following a high-speed chase in nearby Washington.
Moscow Police Chief David Duke said Lee killed his adoptive mother, 61-year-Terri Grzebielski, at her home before heading to Northwest Mutual life insurance.
The gunman shot David Trail, 76, a Moscow businessman, and Michael Chin, 39, of Seattle. Trail died at Pullman Regional Hospital and Chin was listed in critical condition Saturday night at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow.
The shooter then drove to an Arby's restaurant and asked for the manager. When she appeared, he pulled out a gun and opened fire. The manager, 47-year-old Belinda Niebuhr, died at the Moscow hospital.
It was not immediately known what connection, if any, Lee has to the victims at Northwest Mutual and Arby's.
Kelsey Stemrich said she was working at a cafe near Arby's when she and a customer heard three gunshots and then saw people running from the restaurant. She said they took down the license plate number of a car seen pulling away from the Arby's and called it into police.
Police in Washington spotted the suspect's black Honda and a chase involving multiple agencies ensued. Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said the pursuit lasted nearly 25 miles and Lee's vehicle at times topped 100 mph before crashing off Highway 195 north of Colfax and rolling to a stop.
Lee was taken to a Colfax hospital for treatment of minor injuries before he was booked into the Whitman County Jail on a charge of felony eluding.
Moscow authorities had yet to announce any Idaho charges late Saturday, saying the investigation remains active.