[Vision2020] ISP Releases Report on May 2007 Incident

[Tom Hansen]

It was a year ago this coming Monday . . .

Bless you, Officer Lee Newbill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVOgvP8VLNI

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>From today's (May 15, 2008) Spokesman Review -

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Moscow gunman taunted officer 

ISP releases report on May 2007 incident

The man who gunned down a Moscow, Idaho, police officer last year taunted 
the fallen lawman, yelling "officer down," after shooting him, according 
to a newly released Idaho State Police report on the incident that left 
four people dead and two wounded.

Shooter Jason Hamilton killed himself at the end of a rampage that 
occurred almost one year ago, on May 19 and 20, 2007.

The State Police's detailed narrative of the incident was produced last 
July, but only released this week as the pending anniversary brought new 
media attention to the case, said ISP Lt. Charlie Spencer in Lewiston.
 
Officer Lee Newbill had served with the police department since 2001 and 
was the city's first officer killed in the line of duty. On Tuesday, his 
name was added to the wall of the National Law Enforcement Officers 
Memorial in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, three adult 
children and four grandchildren.

The ISP report said that Hamilton, 32, went to Mingles Bar in Moscow 
around 8:30 p.m. on May 19 with a co-worker to drink beer. He returned 
home two hours later and had a confrontation with his wife, Crystal, that 
ended when she was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

Armed with two rifles, Hamilton drove to the First Presbyterian Church in 
Moscow. He broke into the church and walked to where the doors faced the 
Latah County sheriff's office.

At 11:22 p.m. dispatchers in the sheriff's office came under fire, with 
bullets striking inside their office. Dispatcher Marci Williams called for 
help.

Hamilton fired 102 rounds into the sheriff's office, the report said.

Sheriff's deputies and city police arrived, including Newbill and police 
Officer Bill Shields. As they were crossing Adams Street, Hamilton opened 
fire on them, shooting 15 times.

Newbill yelled "down" as he was hit in the chest by a round that 
penetrated his body armor. Shields retreated for cover while radioing that 
Newbill had been hit.

"Hamilton stood and said in a derogatory, mocking manner 'Officer down,' " 
the report said.

Hamilton then went back inside the church and, a few minutes later, opened 
fire on University of Idaho student Peter Husmann, who had heard the 
gunshots and rushed to the scene with a pistol.

Husmann was hit four times and fell in the parking lot. As Hamilton 
continued firing a total of 31 times at him, Husmann got up and ran out of 
harm's way. He survived.

Church caretaker Paul Bauer, who was sleeping in the building, got up to 
investigate the disturbance. At 11:41 p.m., Bauer called 911 from a room 
near where Hamilton was shooting at Husmann. Hamilton walked across the 
room and fired six shots at Bauer, killing him while he was on the phone.

Four officers arrived to remove Newbill from the scene, and lifted him 
inside their vehicle.

But Deputy Brannon Jordan fell out of the back of the rescue vehicle as it 
raced away from the scene.

Jordan was shot in the back and arm as he took cover behind a tree. The 
rescuers raced back and removed him from the scene. Jordan has since 
returned to duty.

About 90 minutes after Hamilton first opened fire, authorities heard one 
muffled shot from inside the church. Shortly before 6 a.m. SWAT teams 
entered the church and found Bauer dead.

Hamilton was found sitting on a bench in the sanctuary with a rifle 
cradled between his legs, dead from "massive gunshot trauma to his head," 
the report said. Cigarettes on the floor indicated he had been pacing.

Four hours later, officers went to Hamilton's home and found the body of 
his wife.

In the home they also found evidence indicating Jason Hamilton was taking 
medication for depression, panic disorder, seizures, insomnia, anxiety and 
paranoia. He had also been using a computer to research bomb-making 
techniques.

No motive for the shootings has been established.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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