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Washington State Troopers and a Skagit County Sheriff's Deputy lead shooting suspect Isaac Zamora, 28, to the county jail Tuesday in Mount Vernon, Wash. Scott Terrell / The Skagit Valley Herald

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Investigators puzzled by trail of Skagit County killings

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 10:32 PM PDT

By Manuel Valdes
The Associated Press

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ALGER, Wash. — A somber police motorcade carried a slain deputy’s body away from the scene of a bloody rampage as investigators tried to determine what set off a shooting and stabbing spree that left six people dead and four wounded.

Isaac Zamora, 28, a drug offender who was released from jail less than a month ago, was ordered held Wednesday on $5 million bail for investigation of murder and attempted murder.

Zamora’s mother said he is “desperately mentally ill” and had been living in the woods. Dennise Zamora said one of those killed in Tuesday’s rampage, Skagit County sheriff’s Deputy Anne Jackson, had tried to help their family for years.

On Wednesday afternoon, a motorcade escorted a hearse bearing Jackson’s body from this small Skagit County town to a funeral home in Mount Vernon. Dozens of police cars and motorcycles joined in.

The shootings began close to Dennise Zamora’s house near Alger, about 70 miles north of Seattle. They continued amid a high-speed police pursuit on Interstate 5 and ended in Mount Vernon, about 20 miles south of Alger, when Isaac Zamora surrendered at a sheriff’s office.

Killed were Jackson, 40, and an unidentified man, both shot at the same location near Alger; two male construction workers who were found shot nearby, and a 48-year-old woman found a few houses away, authorities said.

“Some of these are just random shootings,” said Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary.

A motorist, identified as Leroy Lange, 64, of Methow, was shot and killed along I-5 near a rest stop, said Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz, speaking on behalf of a multi-agency response team.

A review of Skagit County court records showed Zamora had a history of petty violence and theft, including one case in 2003 when he was charged with biting the hand of an employee of a drug treatment center. That case was dismissed.

After he was released from jail in early August, Zamora was under state Corrections Department supervision. Corrections officials said they haven’t found any warning signs in Zamora’s file.

“From what we’ve seen so far, we haven’t been able to identify any red flags that he was on course to do anything like this,” Corrections spokesman Chad Lewis said.

“He’s had a long criminal history, but has only served time in juvenile facilities and county jails, not in state or federal prisons,” Lewis said. “It’s a long rap sheet, but nothing of this magnitude, nothing involving shootings.”

A host of questions remained unanswered Wednesday, including whether the shooter knew any of the victims and how the shootings apparently continued during the police chase.

Eight crime scenes were being investigated by more than 100 people from 15 different agencies, Leary said Wednesday.

“We’re not speculating as to what happened,” Leary said. “It’s too early to tell what took place at each scene.”

Zamora had just served a six-month jail sentence for drug possession in Skagit County.

“We’re so devastated for the families,” Dennise Zamora told The Associated Press by telephone. “I wish it would have been him or me that was killed. That’s how deeply I feel about it.”

She said she wanted people to know that “my son was desperately mentally ill and we’ve been trying to get him help.”

She told The Seattle Times that her son had lived in the woods off and on for years, was unaware of his mental illness and resisted all efforts to get him to accept treatment. The nature of his illness was not immediately clear, but his mother told the newspaper her son had struggled with it since the family’s house burned down more than a decade ago.

She said Zamora was “agreeable” and “placid” Tuesday morning and that she didn’t know what made him change. She also said she didn’t know where he got the gun used in the shootings.

Another four people were injured in the rampage. State Trooper Troy Giddings was grazed by a bullet on the arm while trying to stop Zamora’s truck on the freeway, the State Patrol said, and a 37-year-old motorcyclist was shot in the arm at a Shell gas station in Alger.

In the Alger area, a 56-year-old man was shot and wounded, and a 61-year-old man was stabbed, Goetz said, adding neither injury was considered life-threatening.

The first shootings were reported shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday and the suspect was in custody at the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office by about 4:30 p.m.

From the Alger area, the armed man raced south on Interstate 5 at speeds in excess of 90 mph, with troopers, sheriff’s deputies and Mount Vernon police in pursuit, Leary said.

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Mr. Chinook wrote on Sep 2, 2008 7:58 PM:

" If only more people had concealed carry permits, this might not have been so tragic. "

Sea-Gal wrote on Sep 2, 2008 8:49 PM:

" re: Mr. Chinook. Are you serious?? He killed one COP and wounded another. Two men TRAINED to handle these situations and packing weapons, plural, and it still didn't make a difference. "

El Fuego wrote on Sep 2, 2008 10:33 PM:

" Next time you nay-sayers (you know who you are)have something negative to say about police and how they handle certain calls, just remember this story. I wonder how many of you would do what these officers did for the little pay they receive. Not to many I would wager. "

reasonable1 wrote on Sep 2, 2008 10:36 PM:

" Please tell me Mr. Schnook was being facetious. More guns would have made it nothing but MORE tragic. When (if) they find out whose gun it was, they should be locked up for good. "

Girth VonPhister wrote on Sep 2, 2008 10:54 PM:

" Sea-Gal should read the story. The Deputy that was killed is a woman. And I happen to agree with Mr. Chinook.... "

SPARROW wrote on Sep 2, 2008 11:26 PM:

" A long history of mental illness and criminal record for this person believed to be responsible for these shootings, says one thing. Our justice system allowed this tragedy to happen.If his own mother feels that he needed help in the past, and he was that well known by our police as a mentally challenged person, who was responsible for releasing him back into society time after time. Was it one of the appointed attorney's that we the taxpayers supply to him that got him off the hook without considering his dangerous nature? Probably yes! I feel sorry for his mother and family if they sincerely attempted to get him help and couldn't. I know what it's like to try and convince others that someone needs help before something happens, and your request falls on deaf ears. And what a sad situation to be in to say "I tried to tell you" after the damage is already done. "

cheney119 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:42 AM:

" Guns don't kill people, people kill people, sometimes people kill a lot of other people with guns. I wonder if we'd be reading about these murders if we didn't make these weapons so easily available and accepted by our society. We get what we deserve as long as comments like the first post call for more weapons not less. Why does a violent mentally ill person have easy access to firearms. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 3, 2008 1:10 PM:

" Re Cheney -- Read Sparrow for your answer. Sparrow is absolutely right. Our justice system killed these people. One of these days the Liberals in Olympia will understand that criminals and people with criminal intentions need to be kept off the street. This guy should have been getting treatment. Instead, he was turned free. And people think he's the sick one? I think a political party that coddles people like is sick. I agree with Mr. Chinook in that people have the right to own guns, especially with weird sicko Liberals running around. "

DUH wrote on Sep 3, 2008 3:06 PM:

" There ya go again Bad Boy, blaming Democrats. It was sentencing guidelines that were instituted by your precious Republicans that set him free. Those guidelines were put in place in 1984 during republican rule. Republican governor, and Republican President. Hmmmmm, why don't you ever lay blame where blame is due? Get down off of that high horse or cotton pony or whatever it is you're riding and accept blame instead of placing it. "

Atrucker wrote on Sep 3, 2008 3:21 PM:

" I can tell you from personnel experience that the law does very little and calls it a civil case that they can not be invloved in . Yet I get robbed for 5 grand , He is in and out of jail for fines and drugs and can not hold a job for any length of time unless being supervised. Has a long history of mental problems yet he falls through the cracks . I blame religion in part for the mess , and the rest on our no count mental health community in this town . IT SUCKS !
A vet with Delayed stress syndrome has to go to Portland for any kind of help. I mean what is that ? An accident that will happen cuz this town does not care . "

Cheney119 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 4:57 PM:

" I'm not clear? Is TDN Bad Boy saying that this person should have been arrested for something he might do? You republicans don't have the first concept of what is legal. The problem is this demented person had access to weapons. Being mentally ill is not a crime. Would you lock this fellow up for what he thinks? TDN Bad Boy I don't really care what you think, you have no idea of the problem of the mentally ill. Just keep the weapons away from them. Oh excuse me; every american should have access to lethel weapons. Sad! TDN Bad Boy if we can't keep weapons away from the mentally ill; what can we agree on? Or is the 2nd amendment completely absolute? "

Cheney119 wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:30 PM:

" People have the right to own guns? What People? How about the menaltally ill? Should they own guns? Should they own guns to defend themselves against the fantasies in their own minds? Don't you think that is the motivation for most people who own guns, ie the fantasies inside their own minds. That's what I think, gun owners are paranoid. Isn't that where most of the danger really is? Their own imaginations. Even if you possessed a consealed carry permit would that have helped in this instance? The police officer was murdered and she'd been trained for years. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:39 PM:

" Let's see he just served a six-month sentence so he was in the system. How many times had he been in the system? Well several times since he was a young kid but each time he got a hug and a slap on the wrist. Was it impossible for anyone in the system to figure out this guy was mentally incapable of existing in society? But then all the Liberals care about are personal freedoms. Well this is a perfect example of a person repeatedly showing that he was incapable of handling persaonl freedoms. Yes the system failed the victims in this crime. This person should not have been returned to the street to live in the woods. Cheney don't you get it? Liberalism has seeped so far into your brain that you think guns are the problem here. The problem is a justice system that does not do an adequate job of protecting its innocent citizen. You say I don't know anything about the mentally ill. Well I tell you that I know enough to know people are crying for help and the justice system just refuses to give it. But guess what? Now it will protect him. Now he gets to plead insansity. We may not see him on the streets again for a long time. I'm sure the victims here will be glad to hear that the justice system finally works. It just didn't work for them. "

l-town mom wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:57 PM:

" One vantage point that bears consideration is the fact that the mentally ill in our society are not given the help they so desperately need. Take a look at your insurance plan...odds are that your coverage for mental health services is nowhere near coverage for medical. Until mental health is taken seriously and equally, we will continue to see sad stories such as this one. "

ucrackmeup wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:05 PM:

" You take away the gun rights of citizens only the criminals will have them. If someone wants a gun, they will get, everyone should know that. Check out the statistics of the cities that have strict guidelines on guns.We all have the right to protect ourselves. Bless law enforcement for the excellent job they did & that more people did not get killed. I kind of have to agree with TDN Badboy, quit coddling. As far as Atrucker, I am not sure what religion has to do with this but there does need to be more mental health options available or make it part of sentencing "

Piper wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:29 PM:

" Don't forget it was Reagan who cut funding for all residential facilities for the mentally ill and developmentally delayed. He said they all belonged on the street, not in institutions. Which was pretty funny after Hinckley showed him what was wrong with that thinking. "

Rocko wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:42 PM:

" you people are some piece of work. crap sometimes happens. more guns, less guns, hold him, dont hold him. democrates, republicans. religion? brainiacs, get a clue, life, or at least one more idea. "

Sea-Gal wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:05 PM:

" re Girth VonP - when I commented on this story LAST NIGHT, they had not yet released the identity or GENDER of the murdered officer. "

whatsinaname wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:32 AM:

" right to carry could have prevented this mess from getting so bad. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:12 AM:

" Any body who doesn't believe our Justice system failed here simply has to read the in-depth piece in Thursday's Seattle Times. This guy should NEVER have been out on the streets. Only a justice system that cares more about personal freedoms than citizens protection would decide that. Piper it's not up to the federal government to house a state's mental patients. It is up to the state. Simple. Don't blame Reagan. And besides didn't Clinton come after Reagan. If he felt it was a bad decision he could have reversed it. He didn't because it is a state issue not a federal issue. People our Justice system has detoriated so badly under the Liberals in Olympia that I'm really surprised we don't have more of this. But then again we did have Duncan in our system and gave him a hug and sent him on his way to kill a family, torture and murder a child. If we don't finally admit that something is seriously wrong with our system after these two, then we never will. How come the only anti-crime legislation with teeth in the 30 years the Demoncrats have been in control of this state was a Republican-back voter initiative for three strikes? Voters you can get caught up in the abortion rights and gay rights issues if you want. I vote for the candidate who is strongest against crime and usually that is a Republican. Simple fact. "

DUH wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:39 AM:

" TDN I have answers for everything because my mommy tells me I'm smart Bad Boy, you said, "I vote for the candidate who is strongest against crime and usually that is a Republican. Simple fact. " It was because of the standard sentencing guidelines that the Republicans instituted in 1984 that this guy was let out. Not to strong against crime there bad boy. "

DUH wrote on Sep 4, 2008 9:58 AM:

" You want to take it to the extreme and say "Our justice system killed these people". Why don't we take it one step further there Mr. TDN I have answers for everything cuz I'm too stoned to know the difference Bad Boy and say, because of the Republican instituted guidelines, it was the Republicans that killed these people. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 11:17 AM:

" No Duh it wasn't. It is the people in the system who let him out. And I would venture that is the Liberal policy that has been created. He was under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Unfortunately in this state the DOC has been under the control of Liberal Governor for more than 20 years. Procedures have been established in that time that reflect the hug-a-criminal values of the Liberal Demoncrats this state has elected. It has nothing to do with the sentencing guidelines, which by the way if they are failing the Demoncrats have the power to change not the Republicans. So yes the Justice system did kill these people. This guy was in out of the system several times. If we had a system that did not hug-and-release but had substansial requirements concerning mental health and responsibilities to society this would not have happened. You cannot hug-and-release people like this and expect everything to turn out great. When it doesn't the system is responsible. "

DUH wrote on Sep 4, 2008 12:44 PM:

" You know as well as I do that even if the Democrats were to change the guidelines to be more stringent, you would still fault them for not being stringent enough. I agree with you that the system as it is today sucks. Part of the reason that these guidelines are so lax is that there is no room to house prisoners. When then Governor Booth Gardner proposed building more prisons, he was shot down by the NIMBY's. Therefore making it impossible to house any criminals for any length of time because of lack of room. Now only the most severe criminals get the guaranteed long stays. So, I guess you can say that it's society's fault that these criminals are set free time and time again. I guess I can say that the Democrats are responsible for the 3 strikes you're out law and the 2 strikes you're out law on sexually violent offenders. But, that's not good enough for you either. Those laws were not in place under Republican rule. So Mr. TDN I think I'm holier than thou because I went to church once as a kid Bad Boy, I guess you're as much to blame as you'd like the Democrats to be in your "soft on crime" rhetoric. "

berryjewels wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:27 PM:

" How can the system do anymore then the law allows? The reason those guidelines were put in place is because of lack of room to house all criminals. A democrat wanted to build prisons so we could change those guidelines but was shot down by NIMBY's "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 4, 2008 1:37 PM:

" If Gardner had wanted more prisons there were plenty of places left to go. The Liberals have approved spending on one new prison in I don't know how many years but it is well above 10. As for 3 strikes, don't touch it. The Liberals in Olympia refused to act on a bill for 3 strikes and it had to go through the state initiative process. The Liberals in Olympia had absolutely nothing to do with it. As for 2 strikes, my gosh what took them so long? Republicans have been asking for that since 3 strikes was passed overwhelmingly in 1990s. The Liberals blocked it until it was all but demanded by the public. The Liberals have had control for almost 25 years now. They have done nothing on crime. Absolutely nothing. You cannot read this story and the one on Duncan and tell me that the hug-a-criminal release program is not responsible. And that program is entirely the Liberals. That is fact. The Republicans have wanted to build more prisons but Gregoire and others before here have spent the money elsewhere. My gosh she added more than $8 billion to the budget and not one penny for more public protection from criminals like this. That is a dirilect of duty by the governor and I hope some of these people sue her personally. Her programs are responsible for this. That's what being power gets you. The responsibility. "

cheney119 wrote on Sep 4, 2008 3:59 PM:

" Anybody that disagrees with you is a liberal? Boy there are sure an heck of a lot of liberal and thank god. Nobody agrees with you and you don't have to be liberal to spot a nut. "

DUH wrote on Sep 4, 2008 5:05 PM:

" You and YOUR party refuse to take responsibility for anything. Instead Mr. TDN If I were half as smart as I think I am I would be dangerous Bad Boy, You and YOUR party are famous for shifting blame. "You cannot read this story and the one on Duncan and tell me that the hug-a-criminal release program is not responsible." I agree, it is responsible. And the Republicans are responsible for instituting that program. "

Sea-Gal wrote on Sep 4, 2008 8:29 PM:

" You right-to-carry wing nuts are so predictable. Nowhere in this whole shooting spree was the gunman and his victims in a "gun free" zone. The murdered deputy had a weapon and it didn't help her. The trooper that was shot and wounded had a weapon or two. The shooter was picking people in random locations, basically driving up on them, and taking them completely by surprise. Skagit County is pretty much an NRA stronghold, especially in the smaller towns like Algers, so your statements don't apply in this situation. "

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