Moscow Shooting Began With Domestic Violence
Jason Hamilton Killed His Wife, Then Turned His Guns on the Community
By Joan Opyr, 5-21-07
At 10 pm on May 19th, Jason Hamilton, age 37, was sitting in Mingle’s Bar on Moscow’s Main Street, drinking with a friend. Less than an hour and a half later, he was in the parking lot at the Latah County Courthouse, firing an M1 rifle into the Sheriff’s Office, into the dispatch center, and destroying Sheriff’s Office vehicles in the parking lot. Hamilton fired at least 75 rounds, shooting and killing Moscow Police Officer Lee Newbill and wounding Officer Bill Shields, before fleeing into the Presbyterian Church just across the street. There, he fired another 20 to 30 more rounds, killing caretaker Paul Bauer. Hamilton assumed a sniper’s position on the second floor of the church, and from there he shot and wounded Sheriff’s Deputy Brannon Jordan and 20-year old University of Idaho student Paul Hussman.
At some point, Hamilton turned the rifle on himself, ending the siege but not the nightmare.
This morning at 11 am, Moscow Mayor Nancy Chaney, Moscow Police Chief Dan Weaver, Assistant Chief David Duke, Sheriff Wayne Rausch, County Commissioner Tom Stroschein, and University of Idaho President Tim White held a joint news conference at Moscow’s City Hall. Nancy spoke first—we call our mayor by her first name here—and offered her condolences to the families of Lee Newbill and Paul Bauer. She also praised the many law enforcement agencies and emergency services personnel who came to the City’s aid: the Lewiston City, Nez Perce County, Coeur d’Alene Tribal, and Idaho State Police. Also assisting were the Whitman County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Pullman Police, and the Washington State University Police just across the border. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms came to our aid, and the FBI has secured a second crime scene, the shooter’s home at 1020 Julian Way.
Sometime after leaving Mingle’s Bar but before embarking on his shooting spree at the Latah County Courthouse, Jason Hamilton went home. His wife, Crystal Ann Hamilton, was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Police confirmed that she was shot prior to Hamilton’s attack on the Courthouse, and though they have not given an exact time of death, they seemed certain that she was killed after Hamilton left Mingle’s.
Jason Hamilton had a long history of violence and domestic abuse. On Tuesday, May 15th—four days before his shooting spree—Hamilton was ordered by the court to complete counseling and a 90-day jail sentence in relation to a strangulation charge. Last year, while estranged from his wife, Crystal, Hamilton attempted to strangle his live-in girlfriend. He was convicted of this offense and ordered by the court to possess no firearms. As Hamilton’s firearms were purchased before his conviction, and we do not have a gun registry, this order was virtually unenforceable.
Chief Weaver and Sheriff Rausch refused to speculate about Hamilton’s motives. Both stated flatly that we will probably never know. Investigators have not found any notes or other indications that Hamilton planned his attack. The Hamiltons moved to Moscow from California in 1998 or 1999. Crystal Hamilton had worked as a janitor in the Latah County Courthouse since 2000. Jason Hamilton worked for American Building Maintanence. One of his assignments with the company was to clean the First Presbyterian Church. Investigators are not certain if he let himself into the church using his company’s building keys or if he followed caretaker Paul Bauer into the building. Witnesses report that Mr. Bauer had stepped outside when the shootings began. He then returned to the church and placed a 911 call. He was still on the phone with emergency services when shots rang out in the church. Operators heard the shooting and, apparently, were on the line with Mr. Bauer when he was killed.
On the 16th of January, Jason Hamilton was involuntarily committed to St. Joe’s Hospital for psychiatric evaluation after attempting to commit suicide via an overdose of prescription drugs. While at St. Joe’s, Hamilton apparently stated that he hadn’t meant to kill himself with the drugs; if he were going to commit suicide, he would do it with a gun, and he’d take “a whole bunch of people with him.” Why was this not enough to keep him in custody? Hamilton made his statements and was evaluated twice in accordance with Idaho Code. He retracted his threats and, by the time of his second evaluation, his mental state had improved. He was released back into the community.
Jason Hamilton was well-armed. In addition to the M1 assault rifle, he also carried an AK47. Police found more than 120 bullet casings at the Courthouse and in the First Presbyterian Church. Investigators have been able to trace the purchase of the M1 to a dealer in Washington. Apparently, Hamilton ordered the rifle either over the telephone or by Internet, and picked it up at Husky Sports, a local sporting goods supply store. They have not yet traced the AK47.
Mayor Chaney, in a statement echoed by Chief Weaver and Sheriff Rausch, stated that “Moscow is first and foremost a community . . . we are still a small, close-knit community.” A memorial service for Officer Newbill and Paul Bauer is being planned, but no date has yet been set. Officer Gary Young is providing counseling services to the police department and sheriff’s office, and the City of Moscow will establish a community fund for the family of Officer Newbill.
Lee Newbill was a 1982 graduate of the University of Idaho. From 1992 to 2001, he worked at the University of Idaho as a night watchman. UI President Tim White described Lee Newbill as “caring, compassionate, and fully-committed to the community . . . he cared deeply about the students and their success. He was known to everyone at the university.” Peter Hussman was a senior at the university in mechanical engineering. He lived near the courthouse and, upon hearing the shots, stepped outside armed with a .45 semi-automatic pistol. Hussman was shot while attempting to aid Officer Newbill. President White reported that Hussman is making “good medical progress” at Gritman Medical Center.
Sheriff Wayne Rausch reported that Sgt. Brannon Jordan, who sustained multiple gunshot wounds, is now up and walking with a cane. He is expected to be released from the hospital later today. Rausch described Crystal Hamilton as “a member of the team over at Latah County. [She had] worked in the janitorial department since 2000 . . . [and] was very well-liked over there. She knew everybody [and] everybody knew her.”
A picture of Jason Hamilton is available via Spokane television station KREM. The Hamiltons’ home is approximately five miles outside of the Moscow City Limits. It’s not far from an old railroad stop called Joel, where my family and I live. The questions that we’re all asking ourselves today are why and how and could this have been prevented.
Near the close of today’s press conference, Chief Weaver spoke of the Virginia Tech shootings and said, “To blame professionals for [this tragedy] is in error. Everyone does the best at their jobs as they know how . . . unfortunately, we have some folks who turn to the dark side. People do their jobs to the best of their ability . . . . We live in a very safe community . . . this is an anomaly. We’re not accustomed to this. Our police department will continue to respond in the kind, courteous manner that we have always responded in.”
Hamilton had a long history of domestic violence, assault, mental illness, and run-ins with the police. He was a dangerous and unstable man. I don’t blame law enforcement, but I do blame the law. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44. Could the law have done something to stop Jason Hamilton before he killed three people and destroyed the peace of this town? Could we have saved Lee Newbill and Paul Bauer by saving Crystal Hamilton?
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you can't regulate stupidity
you can't regulate evil
Stupid and evil acts are part of human nature and always be with us. Just need to be aware and get away when stupidity or evil happens. (sadly sometimes you can't get away, prayers for Officer Newbill, Paul Bauer and Crystal Hamilton)
But you can regulate and create laws for known stupidity and evil. For example people who drink and drive (stupid) can be sent to jail once caught and convicted. Hopefully this will correct stupid behavior.
In this case "Jason Hamilton had a long history of violence and domestic abuse. On Tuesday, May 15th—four days before his shooting spree—Hamilton was ordered by the court to complete counseling and a 90-day jail sentence in relation to a strangulation charge. " Jason Hamilton committed an evil act and only sentence to three months in jail.
So I make a final observation: Why was this man on the street and not in jail? It's obvious he is evil. Maybe more stupidity on the case of our justice system?
See line one above
"We thought it was just a domestic violence situation. Who knew it could get this bad?"
There's absolutely no excuse for thinking like that. And it's only when people who are not a part of the "domestic" portion of the violence are injured or killed is attention brought to bear.
We need stronger laws regarding perpetrators of random violence, domestic or otherwise, and we need to have the laws enforced, not with a three-month slap on the wrist but laws with teeth. They won't happen, however, because they come with a financial cost, and that's a burden that most people won't accept. It's easier to save money and turn a blind eye.
Now, standing down from my soapbox, my heart goes out to all those who were injured, and serious kudos to the law enforcement folks, each and every one of them, who do their best to stop this madness, even at the cost of their own lives. We can never thank these folks enough.
To me, this just underscores the need for public health care, especially mental health services. It is possible this man's downward spiral could have been broken. Even the court-mandated legal mental health care services do not have follow-ups of any significance.
While it all ultimately comes down to the individual, we as a society sure don't do as good of a job as we can in helping people before these problems start, even when we know about it.
My hearfelt condolences to all the folks in Moscow who are grieving this night, most especially to the brave men and women working in law enforcement and those who love them. I am awed by their courage and self sacrifice, even unto the greatest sacrifice, of life itself, in order to protect others and the community. Without their timely response, I imagine things could have been worse, much worse
Thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do to keep the peace for us all.
Patricia Koch
Hunting? That's killing for "fun"; and it seems to me it is way too easy to go from finding "fun" in killing animals to killing human beings for fun - as if killing animals for fun isn't immoral enough.
Self-defense? Tell that to the poor young boy lying in a hospital who fell for that gun lobby macho propaganda. I bet that the first thing he does when he gets out of the hospital is turn that gun over to the police for proper disposal.
Why don't we organize a chapter of the Million Mom March and bring Idaho into the 21st Century and make it safe for women and children and unpleasant for macho men who like guns and beating women.
I'll bet the only people here who don't think that taking away all the guns is a good idea are white males.
I shared this article with about 20 friends and family. Leave it to you to compose one of the most thoughtful and comprehensive pieces I have read thus far. This event traumatized the entire community and the losses are enormous.
I know it is a really difficult topic to broach, but it is apparent that there is a toxic and lethal combination between men, masculinity, guns, and violence. Masculine violence is normalized and even glamorized throughout "entertainment" and the media. When masculinity is threatened through various forms of shame (low social status, lack of power, being one down in general), violence is too often the resolution. It is hard to know where to begin.
Thanks for your contribution!
Susan (aka Auntie Nuke)
Guns are like drugs. My husband accepted a challenge from a coworker to "just try it" ; the next thing I knew he bought one and gave it a *name*!
We now have two of them in an ugly steel box bolted to the closet floor and they have names just like the kitties. At our house we now have our kitty friends, Grimalkin and Pyewacket, and his special little friends, Aloysius and Thunder. In less than a year he morphed into a gun toting Republican.
Do you know what he says every time I suggest he properly dispose of them? He tells me I should come out with him and learn to shoot the stupid things. I'm terrified that they will hurt some living creature and he wants me to go out with him and increase that risk?
Yes, I knew Crystal, and not just in passing. I knew her very well. You are so right - she was very private. But I also know how she and Jake struggled with his mental illness. If nothing else comes out of this horrible loss and pain it should at least be a scrutiny of how Jake was pushed through the system. I feel comfortable in saying I believe Crystal would agree with me.
Your fear, hated, and anger will only bring suffering for yourself, and will change nothing. Neither Idaho nor the US will ban guns in our lifetimes. It is not something that you or I have control over. The universe is a very large place, and you only control one thing: yourself. And even that is difficult. You cannot even control your husband, who despite any talk of "unions" is another person, a partial mirror that you might see yourself better.
Perhaps you suffer, but I do not think it is because of some inanimate objects that have caused you no harm. I think it is likely an insecure reaction to a loss of control in your life-- ripped from your home in California, you settle elsewhere only see everything you knew change and your husband grow distant. Your fear over losing control is crystallized in thoughts of guns, for it is easier for the human mind to fixate on something, to assign blame. But gun or no gun, you are still losing control of your own life, growing distant from your husband, and this makes you afraid. To fall is a quiet thing. To realize it is difficult.
But you must face your fears and struggle for control within yourself, and learn that you control your own life, and are not subject to others or inanimate objects controlling you. As long as you persist in this delusion of the self, all your fear, hatred and anger will only make your situation worse and increase your suffering.
Face your fears within.
Why do people like Mz Opyr tie every crime to domestic violence?? She writes "Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women" and then links to this article:
http://www.mincava.umn.edu/documents/factoid/factoid.html
Ms Opyr did you even read the article??????????????? I think you just Googled it and linked to the first thing that came up.... The title looked good... Domestic Violence Factoids.
Too bad you did not read it.
The linked to article is a list of common lies and distortions by domestic violence groups....
It is sad that Mz Ospry used the violent deaths of three people to promote her own lesbian, male hating adgenda.
Sorry Joan... you need to do a little better reasearch. If you google it again quickly you can put in another link that supports your adgenda!
Here is a sample of the article.. There are about 20 other examples.... The bold is the lie.
The March of Dimes Reports that Batterering During Pregnancy is the Leading Cause of Birth Defects and Infant Mortality
The March of Dimes actually reports that they know of no such study.
Sixty-three Percent of Young Men Between the Ages of 11 and 20 Who Are Serving Time for Homicide Have Killed Their Mother's Abuser
This factoid is often used by Sarah Buel in her speeches. It appears to be yet another fact from nowhere. The FBI has published no data that supports this claim. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports has no tables that report on prison populations, let alone a table or figure that breaks down prison populations by age of offender and relationship to victim. There are no Department of Justice reports that report on what number or percentage of young men kill their mother's batterer.
Other Factoids from Nowhere
4,000 Women Each Year are Killed by Their Husbands, Ex-husbands, or Boyfriends
The FBI reports that approximately 1,500 women are killed each year by husbands or boyfriends. Even if one factors in the number of women killed by unidentified or undetermined assailants, the number could not be 4,000.
Women of All Cultures, Races, Occupations, Income Levels, and Ages are Battered - by Husbands, Boyfriends, Lovers, and Partners
While this fact is technically true, it is also true that domestic violence is more likely to occur in homes below the poverty line, in minority households (even controlling for income), and among men and women 18 to 30 years of age.
Nationally, 50% of All Homeless Women and Children are on the Streets Because of Violence in the Home
An interesting factoid stated by Senator Biden, but one without any actual published scientific research to support it.
There are Nearly Three Times as Many Animal Shelters in the United States as There are Shelters for Battered Women and Their Children
Another great sound bite, but one not actually based on a verified count of either type of shelter.
Joan's reporting of the incident was excellent, and the most detailed I've seen so far. I appreciate it. The factoid, and the article linked are not appropriate, and while worthy of specific criticism, do not negate the value of her overall reporting.
Domestic violence is a deadly serious problem, and has been too close to people I love, even though I didn't know anyone in this particular tragedy. (I did once live in the house across the street from the Courthouse, and still have family in that house, and the community.)
We're not going to take everyone's guns away, granted. There are some people whose guns most definitely SHOULD be taken away, SHOULD be in prison (yes, I know we're short of space--there are plenty of people who are guilty of victimless drug crimes who could be freed to make room), or SHOULD be committed to some sort of facility to protect themselves and those around them.
My sympathies to ALL of the affected families.
a card-carrying member of Aryan Nations, it may be more
important in the long run to analyze the tragedy from this
angle.
When the VA Tech shootings happened, only Bob Herbert
in a subscription-only column for the NYT made the point
that anger at women is arguably the deepest root of such violence:
A Volatile Young Man, Humiliation and a Gun
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/04/19/opinion/19herbert.html?hp=&pagewanted=print
(This article can almost certainly be found elsewhere on the
web by searching on the title.)
Even Herbert was blinded by nationalism: every press
survey of earlier mass shootings missed the most
obvious precedent, which was the 1989 attack Montreal
in 1989, where 14 women engineering students were
shot by a similarly deranged male engineering student:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/École_Polytechnique_Massacre
The racist and misogyist dynamics are not mutually
exclusive; they are complementary. Both stem from
scapegoating. Interviews with hard right activists
who turn to violence almost always uncover a
narrative in which the man has lost control of
"his" woman or perceives himself as having been
humiliated by women -- or by other men who think
he is not "manly" enough. This dynamic is long
overdue for greater attention from the press
and law enforcement, because its predictive
power is huge.
What a great read! Narraritive, creative journalism. THank you.
In addition to writing for New West and other magazines, I also work for the YWCA: http://www.ywca.org. The YWCA is committed to eliminating racism and empowering women. We operate shelters for battered women and children throughout the country; we sponsor an annual Week Without Violence, always the third week of October; and we work year-round to educate, advise, and aid women in need. Want the facts about domestic violence? Contact your local YWCA. They'll give you chapter and verse.
Jason Hamilton was first charged with a domestic violence offense 15 years ago. He went on to commit offense after offense. He attempted to strangle a live-in girlfriend. And then, on Saturday, May 19th, he shot and killed his wife. How is this not about domestic violence? I agree that we need better health care. We need universal health care, and that should (must) include comprehensive coverage for mental health. The need for health care does not preclude the need to address a pervasive culture of violence -- far from it.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. I worked with Jason in 1998 and considered him a friend. He was always willing to help anyone that needed anything. He was nothing but kind to me and I looked forward to working a shifts with him. He made us all laugh. I will miss him and I wish that I had got to meet Crystal.
Sincerely-
Angie
"If it ever becomes necessary to start shooting tyrants and “jack booted thugs“ in our country I want as many people on my side as possible. And I want them to have the equipment and the skills to be able to hit head and chest sized objects many hundreds of yards away."
See also my blog posting on this topic: blog.joehuffman.org/2007/09/01/LibelousRumors.aspx
> Second amendment reset button is a militia fantasy about how
> they will overthrow the government with small arms proficiency.
So then ... do you believe that a group of fanatics in Iraq, using small arms proficiency, cannot withstand the might of the US federal government?
If so, then congratulations ... and thank you for supporting the mission.
http://blog.joehuffman.org/2007/09/01/LibelousRumors.aspx
Yuri Orlov
http://therealgunguys.blogspot.com
Such a dark world we live in.
I find it interesting that you can read into what my life must have been like growing up, from a Blog on the internet. I feel sorry for your ego, because you are very wrong. I was very happy growing up. My dad was very fun, and took good care of his family. I think you need a better hobby than trying to predict home life for people you've never met. All three of us kids are doing well. My brother has a great job at Microsoft, my sister is in college, and I am happily married.
I don't think we could have accomplished that with a bad upbringing/home enviorment.
Love you Dad!
-The Other Daughter
Yeah, civil rights suck, and talking about defending civil rights sucks.
That tells us quite a lot about her, doesn't it? And as long as second-guessing is the tactic of the day: In her world view, the whole world sucks, people suck, we're all on the verge of a disaster of our own making (most particularly of the U.S.'s making-- due to our free market system). Have I got that right, Sheryl?
Now I'll bet my second-guessing is more accurate than Sheryl's.
I was approached recently by a leftist who shall remain nameless, who said I should lay off the politics. I should just live my life, not be so contentious, and not worry about what's happening in Washington or on the State capitals or in the city council. I replied that I would like nothing more in all the world than to be left the hell alone-- that as soon as people lay off attacking our civil rights, I will be more than happy to lay off politics, and to get on with my life. Would that it were so.
So I'll tell all the ninny-nannies out there who believe that we have far too much freedom-- anyone who has a desire to tell other people how to live, how much money they shouldn't be making, or what they can and cannot own: As soon as you get the f^%k off our backs and mind your own business I will lay off. Until then I'll be defending human rights in my country first, followed by human rights in other countries, as long as socialism exists or until I'm physically unable. See? You want me to shut up, It's that easy. You first.
A "dark world"? Maybe when leftists are around with any power. Take away their power and we can just laugh at them. Take away the socialism, the despotism, the anti-Americanism, and this is a very, very bright world (but not for the socialists of course-- their outlook starts with the premise that people are a disease on the face of the Earth, and works from there)
He has done well as a father, a husband, and a citizen of the United States.
So Sheryl, and everyone else, I think you should do some homework before you make such accusations, assumptions, etc etc so on and so forth...about/to anyone.
I find it slightly pathetic that someone visits a blog, and makes assumptions with Very Little Facts.
Note: Taken shamelessly from another forum thread.
Its titled: "Killing Offense Meme", lol.
[Google these words to see who wrote them]
Some snippets " " with editorial comments denoted by
[xxx]:
"This is not about stopping an attack in progress. This is about truly 'taking the law into your own hands'. You are judge, jury, and executioner for someone you believe to be worthy of nothing more than pushing up daises."
[oh NO, Mr.Bill there goes the, I need them for self defense!, ha ha]
"This can be accomplished in ways other than to directly murder them. For example you might be creative enough to trick him into a gun battle with the police."
[Great civic virtues here - lets put the lives of law enforcement in danger to do our dirty work and settle our perceived grievances!].
"Timothy McVeigh had an answer. I think his threshold and his execution were severely flawed"
[Heavy!]
"You might be creative enough to frame the scumbag with a crime the police are particularly interested in solving."
[Another great example of civic virtue, let the real criminal go free, but hey as long as you have extracted your vengeance, what the heck!]
"If the problem might be described as punishment rather than elimination of the threat then you might be able to eliminate their ability to be employed. For example child porn on the computer of a grade school teacher pretty much means the end of that career. When they get a new job exploit another vulnerability and eliminate that line of work. Continue as needed until McDonald's won't hire them because they are always vomiting on the job (Syrup of Ipecac does remarkable things)."
[Hmmm one would have to have possession of the illicit materials first for this to be an option and maybe to consider it to, or severe mental problems! and what did Shakespeare say about the character of people who used poison to settle grudges?]
"I guess what I'm really going to saying here is that similar to some of the other people Ben asked this same question I'm going to wimp out. Not because I haven't put a lot of thought into it but because I have put a lot of thought into it."
[Hey now don't wimp out, tell us what you really think! Tell us your dark fantasies about avenging your perceived wrongs! What great moral philosophical topics! What should I kill people for? What methods should I use? Oh, the terrible agony of decisions... does this person who wronged me deserve to die yet, hmmm maybe I should show mercy and only poison him or her?]
[Hey, I want this person as my neighbor!]
You just want to insure that they'll have the (non-negotiable, and required) opportunity to such Police dick from now until the end of the world.
And love to roll it around on their tongues, and savor the flavor.
Not because I haven't put a lot of thought into it but because I have put a lot of thought into it. Basically we have a social contract that says we don't take the law into our own hands. If things reach the point where that social contract isn't being fulfilled by the authorities then we have a different problem and the individual that really should be pushing up daises is probably much lower in the queue of people you need to be dealing with.
NephriteAU doesn't want you actually knowing Joe's opinion, he just wants to to wet your pants at half-quotes.