Resident in assisted living facility shooting says he felt bullied

STANWOOD, Wash. — An 87-year-old resident of an assisted living facility in Stanwood told officers he shot the facility’s director because he had been bullied for months, Snohomish County police documents say.

The Monday afternoon shooting at the Josephine Sunset Home occurred after 87-year-old resident Arthur Hames walked into Roger Holbrook’s office and said, “I have something for you,” produced a small handgun and fired it twice, probable cause documents said.

One shot missed Holbrook, 57, who is the director of the facility, but another shot connected with his abdomen.

Medical staff at Harborview told police the bullet had just missed Holbrook’s liver.  Holbrook was treated and has since been released.

According to a police report, after the shots were fired, the two men fought over the gun and other staff members subdued Hames until police arrived.

The police report said Hames spoke openly with detectives and patrol deputies, admitting he shot Holbrook with the intention of killing him and then committing suicide.   He expressed disappointment that he did not succeed with either, the report said.

Hames told officers that he had been bullied by Holbrook for months and Holbrook was abusive to other residents, documents said.

“Hames decided that he had had enough of Holbrook’s antics and decided to murder him by shooting him,” a police officer wrote in a report.

Hames was arrested on charges of first-degree assault and booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

The CEO of the facility said no guns are allowed on the premises.  The Department of Social and Health Services is handling that part of the investigation.

Hames has no criminal record.  His bail was set at $200,000.

KIRO