DoubleTapDrew
Member
I hadn't seen this story posted but it was all over the local news. It seems even driving to the police station won't save you.
Aside from having a weapon to defend herself with, about the only thing I could think of that might have helped is calling 911 on the way there explaing the situation, although maybe she thought she could make it inside in time. A horrible situation regardless. Maybe the saying should be "when seconds count, the police are only a few paces away".
Original story with video: http://www.katu.com/news/18387359.html
WEST LINN, Ore. - There are a lot of questions surrounding the violence outside the West Linn Police Department on Tuesday that left two people dead and now comes word that witnesses saw the suspect ramming his truck into his estranged wife's SUV a half-hour before the shooting but no one called 911.
The incident began around 4 p.m. when, according to police, a woman in an SUV was trying to get to the police department for safety when her estranged husband drove into the parking lot and rammed her with his truck.
Police Chief Terry Timeus watched the situation unfold from the window of an upstairs office. He said he heard yelling and when he looked out the window, he saw a man pull a rifle.
By the time police got outside, shots had already been fired at the woman, who was still in her SUV, and the man then turned a weapon on himself while still in his vehicle.
The woman, 51-year-old Gayle McMurtrey of West Linn, died at the scene and the man, 56-year-old Newton Bill McMurtrey of Damascus, was rushed to the hospital, but later died of his injuries.
No officers were involved and the shooting appeared to be the result of some kind of domestic dispute, police said. It was not immediately clear what set off the series of events.
"We are saddened by this tragic incident," said Timeus. "Though we know our officers could not have changed the outcome of this shooting, we understand she was trying to make it here for her safety and our hearts go out to the victim's family."
Officers later learned that 30 minutes before the shooting at the police station, witnesses saw the suspect ramming his truck into the victim's SUV but apparently no one called 911.
"It is imperative that people call 911 immediately if they witness suspicious or violent behavior," said Sgt. Neil Hennelly.
Aside from having a weapon to defend herself with, about the only thing I could think of that might have helped is calling 911 on the way there explaing the situation, although maybe she thought she could make it inside in time. A horrible situation regardless. Maybe the saying should be "when seconds count, the police are only a few paces away".