Legislature Notebook
Introducing...
A New Magazine: The New West
The best way to check out The New West magazine is to subscribe. We want to know who’s interested in The New West, so we have made the magazine available free to qualified subscribers who answer a short questionnaire.
In the Spring Issue and online here:
- Montana’s Cash Cowboy
- Real Ranch Living: Not Everyone is Selling Out
- Essay: The Family Farm, Version 2.0
- Essay: Tracks Across A Landscape
- Have Your Ranch & Develop It, Too
- Design Showcase: The Big and Little of Western Building
- Stuff It: Can Wolf Hunting Help Conserve the Species?
- Traffic Perplexes New Western Communities
- Boise in Its Own Little Bubble
- Revenge of the Resource Economy
- Spotlight North Idaho: On the Agenda: Youth, Growth & Silver
- Spotlight North Idaho: Players of the Panhandle
- Spotlight North Idaho: Coeur d’Alene Tribe Rides the Idaho Boom
A Community in Shock
Shooting Wreaks Devastation in Moscow, IdahoUpdate: At a press conference late this morning [Monday], Idaho authorities revealed that the shooter had in fact killed his wife before his rampage at the courthouse and the church, bringing the death toll to three. The gunman, who killed himself, was identified as Jason Hamilton, 37, a maintenance worker with a long history of mental illness and domestic violence. His wife, 30-year-old Crystal Hamilton, was found dead in their home with a single gunshot wound to the head. Crystal Hamilton worked at the Latah County Courthouse, where her husband unleashed a barrage of semi-automatic weapons fire Saturday night, and Jason Hamilton had done cleaning work at the church where he killed the caretaker.
The wounded police officer was identified as Brannon Jordan, and he was released from the hospital today after beng treated for leg wounds. A 20-year-old university student remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition.
Update Two: Joan Opyr in Moscow has posted a complete account from the press conference here.
At six-thirty [Sunday] morning, a friend called from Virginia. She'd seen Moscow, Idaho on the national news and wanted to know if my family was okay. We are -- but that was the first we knew of the shootings that took place last night in our town.
So far, we know only the bare facts. A gunman armed with an SKS assault rifle opened fire on the Latah County Courthouse and the Sheriff's Office. He fired round after round through the windows and walls of the dispatcher's center and through the walls of the building, more than 75 rounds altogether. He shot and killed Moscow Police Officer Lee Newbill and wounded Sheriff's Deputy Brannon Jordan, who remains in serious condition. One civilian was wounded and is reported in stable condition following surgery. The gunman then fled into The First Presbyterian Church, which is located just across from the Courthouse at the corner of Fifth Street and Van Buren. There, he shot and killed Paul Bauer, the church caretaker, before apparently turning the gun on himself.
