FOLLOWUP: Woman shot and killed at West Seattle house identified as Dr. Tammy Towers Parry; police release more details of shooting

Orb October 2, 2024 (5:43 pm)

Thoughts and prayers…

Desperately Seeking Saka October 2, 2024 (5:44 pm)

“The shotgun was not fired”. I hope the shooter warned the doctor to drop her weapon before killing her.

Mike October 2, 2024 (6:16 pm)

I dunno… point a shotgun at me, I don’t think there would me time for me to mutter those words. It’s me or you and it isn’t gonna be me.
- Seattlite October 2, 2024 (6:56 pm)
  
  Mike…Was the shotgun pointed at the man? It says the lady “presented a shotgun.” Is that the same as pointing a shotgun. The shotgun was not fired. There are still a lot of questions to be answered.
  - K October 2, 2024 (7:43 pm)
    
    The police are investigating that now. It doesn’t make any more sense to defend someone when you don’t have all the answers than it does to condemn someone when you don’t have all the answers. The things we know are that she used to be a great doctor, she later participated in an act of domestic terrorism (by her own admission), and now she’s dead. Maybe let the police sort things out more before jumping all over anyone defending firearm use in general terms. Not everyone who fails to praise Ms. Parry is attacking her.
  - Mike October 2, 2024 (8:30 pm)
    
    Typically wouldn’t come to the door with a shotgun if there was no intent to use it. You’re correct, we don’t truly have all the answers.
  - HenryS October 3, 2024 (10:52 am)
    
    I’m with Mike. The infinitesimally fine line between somebody “presenting” a shotgun and blasting me in the face with it is not enough for deliberations about intent or ability to fire the weapon. Short of Green Beret training a person doesn’t have the ability to make such life or death decisions
  - Cypress October 3, 2024 (11:37 am)
    
    Presenting a gun is brandishing, an aggressive action. Washington state law says, “It shall be unlawful for any person to carry, exhibit, display, or draw any firearm, dagger, sword, knife or other cutting or stabbing instrument, club, or any other weapon apparently capable of producing bodily harm, in a manner, under circumstances, and at a time and place that either manifests an intent to intimidate another or that warrants alarm for the safety of other persons.”You don’t come out with a shotgun to meet people peacefully approaching your door. She knew her house was foreclosed. She likely knew it was sold at auction the day before. It is obvious she brandished to gun to intimidate and possibly harm the visitors holding paperwork.
    - HenryS October 3, 2024 (12:03 pm)
      
      Good point. Another possibility is suicide by confrontation
  - Sam October 5, 2024 (5:56 am)
    
    Why did she need a shotgun to answer the door? She knew they were processing servers. This was a woman with a history of recklessness.
- ws October 2, 2024 (7:00 pm)
  
  They didn’t say “pointed” they said “presented”. “The resident exited the home and presented a shotgun.” What does that mean? Was she aiming at them or just holding it?
- It'stime October 2, 2024 (8:06 pm)
  
  Imagine the scenario if the doctor was not ‘presenting’ a shotgun?
  
  Likely, a different outcome:
  with no shots fired,
  no human slaughtered and
  no one rethinking their perhaps “rightful,”
  but lethally fateful, actions?
  Yes, our country is unique in constitutionally welcoming this carnage by encouraging every one to exercise the “right” to have firearms (for security, no less!).
  Statistics reveal more tragic outcomes from just owning a gun (case in point).
  
  I feel secure in knowing I do not own one, not responsible for possessing a firearm, what it is designed to do and who could get ahold of it.
  - Tony October 3, 2024 (7:47 am)
    
    That’s not accurate…statistics do not show more tragic outcomes-That’s a left ideology. Millions are legal firearm owners (underline legal) who are law abiding as yourself.
    - K October 3, 2024 (9:00 am)
      
      It’s Time’s comment is supported by data: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/research-reports/firearm-violence-in-the-united-states#:~:text=Over%20four%20decades%20of%20public,has%20nearly%20doubled%20since%202000.  “Tragic outcomes” includes suicides and accidents, things that happen to “law abiding” gun owners all the time.
    - Pete October 3, 2024 (8:33 pm)
      
      Don’t come at them with evidence, they don’t like that haha
    - Silat October 4, 2024 (12:34 am)
      
      You’re wrong. A simple search proves you wrong. And it is right wingers like you that pass false information regularly.Does owning a gun increase the chances of getting shot?Individuals who were in possession of a gun were also 4.23 (95% CI = 1.19, 15.13) times more likely to be fatally shot in an assault. In assaults where the victim had at least some chance to resist, individuals who were in possession of a gun were 5.45 (95% CI = 1.01, 29.92) times more likely to be shot.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2759797/#:~:text=Individuals%20who%20were%20in%20possession,more%20likely%20to%20be%20shot.
    - Bbron October 4, 2024 (6:06 am)
      
      “That’s a left ideology” lol, you’re literally playing into the jest that “reality has a left-leaning bias”: https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/do-states-with-easier-access-to-guns-have-more-suicide-deaths-by-firearm/
Walkerws October 2, 2024 (6:19 pm)

If she was aiming her gun at them, they had legitimate reason to fear for their lives. Firing on that threat was the right thing for them to do, and they had no moral or legal requirement to tell her to drop her shotgun first.
- Desperately Seeking Saka October 2, 2024 (6:40 pm)
  
  “If” she was aiming it at them or even attempting to aim it then it’s a justified homicide. But “presented” could mean simply holding it in one hand or opening a gun case. If that was the situation then it’s an unjustified homicide/manslaughter.
  - Michelle C October 2, 2024 (7:53 pm)
    
    I’ve been on a jury for a murder and it’s not that simple. It doesn’t matter where the gun is pointed; if it’s reasonable to believe you are in imminent danger you are allowed to defend yourself with force if necessary.This sounds like a really sad situation for everyone involved.
  - bill October 2, 2024 (7:56 pm)
    
    “Presenting” a shotgun was a clear threat. An irrational reaction to the situation made infinitely worse with guns. In a better society nobody would have guns and this woman could have been dealt with nonviolently. But this is who we, we Americans, are. And the justifiable reaction of the process servers was to shoot first because waiting to react until someone actually points a shotgun at you is to wait too long.
    - Jort October 2, 2024 (11:24 pm)
      
      Indeed, Bill. Who was “the good guy with a gun” today?
  - SoLongDelridge October 2, 2024 (11:57 pm)
    
    Unsurprising that we would hold citizens to a higher standard than police.
  - Rusty October 3, 2024 (7:39 am)
    
    You do not need a gun pointed directly at you to justify self defense. All depends on circumstance.
Seattlite2 October 2, 2024 (6:29 pm)

I hope they did as well, but if she brandished a shotgun at them first, whilst they were performing their job, they had every right to defend themselves..
Alki resident October 2, 2024 (6:38 pm)

Zero reason to warn someone who is aiming a gun at you. Learn your laws.
- Thomas October 2, 2024 (7:54 pm)
  
  Agree totally!

Seattlite October 2, 2024 (6:14 pm)

Does “presented a shotgun” mean the shotgun was pointed at the “40-year-old man” who fired his gun?

CommonCents October 3, 2024 (11:50 am)

Does it matter?
- Seattlite October 4, 2024 (11:40 am)
  
  Yes it does matter. Common sense needs to start somewhere, because the three people involved in this tragedy used no common sense whatsoever which means all three will pay the price…the woman paid with her life.

Alan October 2, 2024 (6:19 pm)

This woman used to be my doctor. I am absolutely shocked by what became of her. She wasn’t just a good doctor….She was s great doctor. Granted, i haven’t seen her in well over a decade and it sounds like she developed some sort of serious mental health issues. I never would have expected this fall from grace from my interaction with her.

Seattlite October 2, 2024 (6:57 pm)

Alan…You and many other commenters have indicated what a great doctor she was…it is all so tragic.
- WSlite October 2, 2024 (7:57 pm)
  
  Yes it is tragic, yes someone lost their life. I’m unsure of what ‘presented a shotgun’ means exactly… but I would like to think that given their line of work and the type of job process servers have; they wouldn’t risk their lives or careers for ‘nothing’.. the fact your playing devils advocate for a documented and self proclaimed insurrectionist is appalling..
- Alan October 2, 2024 (8:58 pm)
  
  No doubt a massive tragedy. When i say she was a great doctor, more than anything it was her bedside manner. She was so compassionate yet very professional. I suffered from anxiety and she was the first health care person I opened up to about it. Ill never forget how understanding and re-assuring she was that i would get through it. I’m still in shock.
  - Cheryl October 5, 2024 (1:45 pm)
    
    I just wanted to express that I feel the same way you do about Dr. Towers. She was so loving & caring to all. I think those who got a chance to meet her can’t believe how hard it is to comprehend what has happened to her. Over the years I have thought of her regularly and how much she helped me and my daughter and to wake up and see this sad news. I chose to remember her for all her wonderful work and not what happened in the end obviously something went wrong with her health.
- Susan Wakeman October 3, 2024 (4:56 am)
  
  Why would a great doctor get so far behind in house payments? Legal fees from Jan 6?
  - WESREZ October 3, 2024 (12:55 pm)
    
    Her medical license was revoked after J6, no surprise. And it appears she was working through a long divorce, so she was probably strapped financially.
  - Brandon October 3, 2024 (1:44 pm)
    
    Valid Question. That would explain answering the door with a shotgun. Considering that is, that the fed government has practically called anybody involved at the capital protests a domestic terrorist, and she’s obviously ostracized from her community based on peoples comments. Sounds like a person backed into a wall not wanting to give up her home because she’s under attack for thought crimes and called mental for it.
    
    Doubt we’ll get the full story.
    - Kyle October 4, 2024 (1:08 pm)
      
      Yeah I’m gonna have to say that breaking and entering the capitol building on Jan 6 (and then bragging about it on social media) is a little more than a “thought crime” but that’s just me.
  - KW October 3, 2024 (5:25 pm)
    
    Sounds like mental illness could have played a role. It’s terrifying!
Kayo October 2, 2024 (8:30 pm)

She was my doctor, too. And my toddler’s doctor (she is now 18 so this was a long time ago now). She was warm, funny, kind and overall a wonderful doctor. A real partner in our healthcare. Hard to understand what led her down this path. 😔 RIP.
Marine Jim October 3, 2024 (7:12 am)

She was diagnosed with MS a number of years ago maybe 2015. MS is not a mental health condition, btw. Do you know that she was struggling g with her mental health?
Crystal October 7, 2024 (11:42 am)

She was my doctor as well, and also the doctor for my two children (one of whom she delivered). The Dr. Tammy we saw in the last several years was nothing like the amazing, incredible doctor and woman I came to know over my 15 years of seeing her. This whole thing has rocked me quite a bit, and is such a tragic end to the life of a person I so admired and respected for a long time before something happened that clearly changed her. I know what I’ve read about the last few years of her medical practice, but I obviously don’t know all the details on her changing health. I just know the Dr. Tammy I knew was not the same person as we’ve seen in the news the last few years.
Suzanne Thompson October 16, 2024 (10:11 pm)

She was my doctor too, the best I ever had. Apparently, she was Dx with MS. On another forum, someone close to her said she had lesions on her brain in the area for reasoning. It’s the only possible explanation I can think of. She literally lost her mind. The medical board wanted her to have a mental health evaluation, but she refused and I think that’s how she lost her license. This is so tragic all the way around.

Gerald October 2, 2024 (7:22 pm)

We better scrutinize the life of the actual shooter in this scenario now. Political affiliations, social media presence, signs outside his home, travel patterns, career history, etc. He had the advantage of knowing whose home he was entering. Earlier reports said the shotgun was fired. What else was incorrect/left out? Sad how quick the earlier commenters were to be gleeful about a person with mental health issues being shot in her own home.

Susan Wakeman October 3, 2024 (4:58 am)

Paper servers do not enter homes. But they do research the target first.
CAM October 3, 2024 (5:44 am)

Attacking the Capitol is not a “travel pattern.”
Jort October 3, 2024 (9:21 am)

Who was gleeful about this?

David October 2, 2024 (7:41 pm)

The context of this all makes it a horrible tragedy. I just hope people realize that the unhoused people who are suffering from mental illness and addiction that are regularly demonized in the comments on this blog almost always have similarly tragic stories and that they deserve the same empathy as this poor woman.

Jort October 2, 2024 (11:22 pm)

Indeed, a sad situation, and lots to think about. I read with interest the earlier thread and saw comments demanding compassion and sympathy for the deceased while declaring strictly “off-limits” any kind of discussion of the person’s circumstances, including the contributing factors that led to this (i.e. the brain-rotting influence of extremist far right conspiracy theories and their contributions to dangerous social behaviors). But this exhortation for civility came from some familiar folks that I could charitably say aren’t exactly brimming with empathy when it comes to the tragic situations in which other less-fortunate neighbors might find themselves. If the long, agonizing decline and, eventually, preventable death of this woman saddens your heart, that’s understandable and OK. But, perhaps we can consider using this as a learning opportunity for ourselves to ask why we struggle to extend that same empathy to other neighbors in this city who also suffer – even the ones that make us feel gross and icky when we have to see them suffering, and who we hope our police and politicians will make just magically evaporate. And perhaps we can consider the larger influences that contribute to people getting into these situations, whether it’s an addiction to the poisonous, exploitative conspiracy theory political movements, or an addiction to poisonous drugs. Both leave people with broken lives and families and few options. Both are pitiable and tragic. Unless, of course, the argument is that this woman’s life is more deserving of compassion than a homeless person’s. If that’s your stance, perhaps the opportunity for learning has truly passed.
- Neighbor October 3, 2024 (7:44 pm)
  
  Came to say exactly this. Thank you for expressing it far better than I would have. We all have a lot to ask ourselves about our unconscious biases, myself included.

Former patient October 2, 2024 (8:25 pm)

She was my primary care physician at Swedish Greenlake from 2001-2004, as well as my 2 surviving childrens’ pediatrician from 2004-2008. She was an amazing, loving, fact-based practitioner who cared deeply for me and my family for years. She cared for me as my OBGyn as I awaited the birth of my first child, and subsequently after I lost her full term in 2002. Tammy was fact-based and of sound mind. She was someone I trusted completely and showed up for me repeatedly. She suffered a mysterious brain illness in the years after I left her practice to move our care closer to our home in WS. This was only to reconnect with her years later in the neighborhood and learn of her neurological struggles. I had interactions I don’t care to go into, but over the years her cognitive decline led her to QAnon, anti mask during covid, and ultimately to Trump’s insurrection on Jan 6. Many local institutions including UW Medicine and Swedish put out statements separating themselves from her. I believe she’s probably been investigated for her participation at the Capitol on Jan 6. I want to emphasize that prior to her neurological illness she was the most caring and competent provider. Today I mourn the loss of her – who she was before her brain was sabotaged somehow – and want to urge empathy to all those who discuss this here.

Marine Jim October 3, 2024 (7:16 am)

Thank you for this We are too quick to judge. How rapidly a person’s life can change. Compassion is often the only good response.
Crystal October 7, 2024 (11:46 am)

I had the same experience as you, and she also delivered my children and provided incredible, fact-based, empathetic care for me and my kids for almost 15 years. I loved her and so appreciated how much she cared for me and my family over the years. The illness that robbed her of sound mind was painful and so hard to watch unfold, and with her loss of life, it’s just such a tragic end to this really, really sad situation.

Andre October 2, 2024 (9:56 pm)

I knew the old Tammy. I am good friends with her brother. It is important for everyone to know that Tammy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a long time ago. Her MS specifically attached lesions to her brain, and more specifically, to the areas of the brain that control reason, personality, judgement, logic. Tammy, as we knew her, ceased to exist many years ago. This is an incredibly sad story, but to no one more so than her friends and family. I remember skiing with her at Whistler over 20 years ago. She was amazing. Beautiful. Athletic. A doctor. Heck, before I met my wife I wanted to date her. This is so incredibly tragic. This was all due to MS.

WiseWoman October 2, 2024 (11:40 pm)

Thats is so awful. Thank you for details. There has been recent studies on MS and it was noted in autopsy 8/10 patients who had MS were found to have parasite infections. I think it was. John Hopkins.
Former patient October 3, 2024 (6:04 am)

Thank you for sharing these details. I hope to find out about services. It’s so so sad how much the MS changed her. She was even cruel to me online after years of experience and even seeing her socially a few times. I am praying her family finds peace and can only imagine what the last 10+ years were like for them enduring everything in her wake.
CA October 3, 2024 (9:38 am)

So if Tammy was wonderful before.. and appeared to have a big psychological change… WHY COULD SHE OWN GUNS???🤬
KEE October 4, 2024 (10:45 am)

Andre, Thank you for your comments. I knew the “old Tammy” too. She was amazing, kind, caring, funny and friend to trust. My prayers are lifted up to Tammy, and my heartfelt condolences to Tammy’s family and close friends that knew her best.
PS in the Junction October 7, 2024 (1:41 pm)

Whoa there, Andre. The cognitive problems of MS are forgetting words, being absent minded and other small things. NOT mental illness. My word do some research would ya? I’ve lived with MS for well over 20 years and brain lesions determine growth of the disease and ONLY if it hits a optic nerve can you suffer from blindness. The lesions in your cervical spine affect your walking and other motor skills. It doesn’t lead you to believing Qanon garbage and wanting to storm the capitol. Please stop. There has also been great strides in MS medical therapies the past 30 years. Her not practicing will more than likely Jan 6 and if it’s MS related, it would be her physical health NOT mental.

Y October 2, 2024 (10:12 pm)

I work at a company of people who serve papers (like eviction notices) and we are all required to NOT bring shotguns to houses for exactly this reason. Our folks cannot carry firearms while they deliver papers. A lot of servers who deliver these kinds of papers face all sorts of hostile situations like you wouldn’t believe…people waving around guns or drawing guns is not rare. I wish people did not threaten others, especially when they are just the messenger. Obviously I don’t know all the details and I feel for all parties involved. No one wanted this conclusion…

CA October 3, 2024 (9:41 am)

Sounds very DANGEROUS… why aren’t papers mailed as Certified Mail( not signed for)… and a person is considered SERVED?? AND all the social media and cell numbers contacted?
- Daniel October 4, 2024 (9:32 am)
  
  CA – it can be done by mail, in certain cases outlined in RCW 4.28.100 https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=4.28.100 – but there’s an extra layer of process, and it requires a court petition. And it still might not work. But it can be attempted, sometimes. I dunno about in this specific situation.

Carol October 2, 2024 (10:19 pm)

I also saw Dr. Towers a few times (in addition to my usual doctor) and she was terrific. I am beyond shocked at her incredibly sad spiral into mental illness and this tragic end. And glad that no one else was hurt. My condolences to her family.

Suzanne October 2, 2024 (11:19 pm)

I really appreciate the comments from those who knew Dr. Towers before her health took a terribly sad turn. She clearly was an extraordinary person and doctor whose compassion and vibrancy shines through your words.

Mom of J October 2, 2024 (11:51 pm)

This is all just a reflection of the damage of mental illness. I don’t disagree with the outcome as you cannot bring a gun without the threat of repercussions. There is also a gun problem, how did she have a gun? She was ill, unfortunate that she was not under better healthcare. As a mother of a son who is bipolar – you cannot blame the person, nor set them free of responsibility. It is horrible to live with mental illness. HORRIFIC and you cannot judge those who live with it, nor the families of those who try to help them through it. This is a societal issue. There are no easy solutions folks.

Mnkshow October 3, 2024 (12:25 am)

The fact that there was no arrest of the 2 people who arrived with papers, defended themselves, stayed at the scene and handed over their weapon, says it all.
Incredibly sad for all involved.

22blades October 3, 2024 (3:11 am)

A person with a derailed marriage, a penchant for conspiracy theories, & a diagnosed neurological disorder can carry a gun? Only in America…

Bob October 3, 2024 (3:19 am)

I thought Washington was an equal force state. Which means you have to be shot at to shoot someone.

Daniel October 3, 2024 (1:40 pm)

As far as I know, there are zero US states that set the bar at “equal force”. And that’s definitely not true in WA. In Canada I think that can be true. In the US, the bar is typically “reasonable force” or only as response to some “reasonable threat to death or great bodily injury” or something like that. Then there’s a other dimension, some states have “duty to retreat”, though no West Coast or mountain states have that – it’s all “stand your ground” or whatever out here.
ltfd October 3, 2024 (4:54 pm)

You are incorrect.

Marine Jim October 3, 2024 (7:25 am)

There is a difference between mental illness and the MS that apparently just destroyed Tammy’s brain. Please see Andres comment above about the impact of MS on Tammy. MS is a neurological condition not a mental illness. . Please stop saying she had a mental illness– this just shows you don’t know anything about MS or mental illness. Andres, thank you for sharing your story. So very tragic what has happened to Tammy.

Seattlite October 3, 2024 (12:22 pm)

Number one: you have no idea if she had a mental illness on top of having MS. Number two: only her doctor knows the truth of her physical and mental condition(s).
Lisa October 3, 2024 (3:18 pm)

@Marine Jim – Respectfully, I’d suggest you read the comments here from the doctors that say MS was not the cause of her mental decline/illness. I may not know much about MS or mental illness myself, but I’ll trust the doctors that have chimed in that this was NOT caused by MS. Therefore mental illness is much more likely.
- Seattlite October 4, 2024 (8:15 am)
  
  Lisa…In all due respect to the doctors’ opinions on this thread, the doctors on this thread were not the deceased person’s doctors unless you know differently. If the doctors on this thread were not her personal doctor, then ONLY her doctor knows her medical history and the treatment given to her for her medical/mental condition(s).

Watertowerjim October 3, 2024 (7:49 am)

This is just so ironic. Anytime the police are threatened the community outcry is over-the-top. “Why didn’t they taser him’! “Why didn’t they shoot him in the leg”! “Why did they shoot him so many times”! Now – it’s “she pointed a gun at them, of course it is justified”!

K October 3, 2024 (9:04 am)

Process servers aren’t trained in de-escalation, they aren’t paid by taxpayers to keep the peace, and 9 times out of 10 those comments about police come after they shoot someone who is completely unarmed but “looked scary”. Nice try, but this is a wildly different scenario.
- CA October 3, 2024 (9:43 am)
  
  Agreed

Jay October 3, 2024 (9:51 am)

Red flag laws are designed for this situation. I wish one of her family members had acted on that. She shouldn’t have been able to have a gun with her mental health issues.

PotKettleBlack October 3, 2024 (10:02 am)

Instead of pretending this is “sad” and “tragic” and using “mental Illness” as an excuse, let’s apply the same rules that WS commenters use for folks that aren’t rich, white, conservatives living in expensive homes. This violent criminal was a public nuisance whose home was a blight on our community. We should demand that the mayor conduct more sweeps to remove criminals like her before our children are exposed to her filth. We should also have access to a registry similar to sex offenders so we know when and where violent criminals like her are hiding in our communities. Stings doesn’t it?

Neighbor October 3, 2024 (6:49 pm)

YES

WSPK October 3, 2024 (11:12 am)

Marine Jim above is correct. My wife has worked for ~20 years as a specialist in MS care, and has seen thousands of patients. She says it would be “very unusual” for that disease to be responsible for whatever behavioral changes the late Dr. may have experienced. There can be cognitive decline with MS, but typically not of the type that would lead down this path.

johnny October 3, 2024 (1:47 pm)

I totally agree. I have been a psychiatrist for 30 years, working in a variety of clinic and hospital settings. I have met many patients with MS over the years, but have never seen a patient for whom MS caused drastic personality change like what has been described with this doctor. The most frequent problematic symptoms of MS that I have seen are motor symptoms (weakness, partial paralysis), extreme fatigue, vision problems. Sometimes there can also be some cognitive components such as memory loss and some general cognitive decline. Of course, individuals with any chronic illness, especially neurological, are at risk of depression, anxiety and related struggles. I don’t believe that linking her MS to political radicalization and seditious acts is a sound argument. A more like scenario is the type of political radicalization that has plagued many in our country and her compatriots on 1/06/21. If MS caused these radical personality changes, I would have seen this among the tens of thousands of patients I have seen over a 30 yr career in psychiatry.
- Derrick October 3, 2024 (5:00 pm)
  
  A cursory search of the literature shows that MS lesions in the frontal lobes absolutely can be associated with severe personality changes and acquired sociopathy. I think we as physicians have a responsibility to pause on making specific statements about specific patients who we do not have all the clinic information on before making definitive statements. I am glad that in your patients’ experiences they have not suffered as this woman is alleged to have suffered, but her experience is not beyond what is described in the literature.

alkiannie October 3, 2024 (12:58 pm)

I’m encouraged by the compassion shown for a woman who lost her way in life. As others have noted, I hope we can extend the same understanding to others who struggle and make poor choices. For instance, a homeless person in West Seattle, stealing to support an addiction—who was once a loved son or father—could benefit from such empathy. Can we apply that same lens when he pulls out a shotgun and threatens someone? This might be an opportunity for us to reflect on our biases—whether they relate to gender, race, occupation, or wealth.

Anywhere but here October 3, 2024 (8:17 pm)

I guess yall are on board defending this woman because she wasn’t actually unhoused yet, correct?

Dennis October 3, 2024 (9:31 pm)

Armed or unarmed is your privilege when answering your door. It is no one’s privilege to double tap you for it.

JM October 3, 2024 (10:56 pm)

How do we know that the process servers didn’t point their weapon at her first? Possibly she presented her weapon secondly and was the one acting in self defense.We don’t have her account of what happened and are only hearing the side of the process servers. They were on her property and knocked on her door, which nowadays is enough to frighten anyone.

Mike October 4, 2024 (8:33 am)

There are a lot of completely unhinged people who cheer on the death of a person that held beliefs that oppose their ideology. I am going to hope law enforcement can do their due diligence and investigate the whole thing in its entirety.
- Seattlite October 4, 2024 (11:52 am)
  
  Mike….Amen.
walkerws October 4, 2024 (9:29 am)

Given she was an insurrectionist and part of a violent misinformation cult, it is highly unlikely that your theory is what happened. It boggles the mind that you would push this position which is almost certainly not what happened.
flimflam October 4, 2024 (1:00 pm)

I’m not sure but highly doubt they serve eviction notices at gunpoint….
alki_2008 October 6, 2024 (12:48 am)

Why would process servers point their guns at her? They were there to serve papers, not to do a home invasion.

And if she was so frightened by someone at her door, then why open it and step outside? People don’t have to answer the door when someone knocks or rings the doorbell. If you don’t feel like answering the door, then don’t.
- Goinstrong8384 October 11, 2024 (2:49 pm)
  
  If the process servers are armed, it is highly unlikely they would have “cleared leather” without an apparent threat – unless they had reliable intelligence beforehand. More likely: they approached the house – the servers observed a shotgun in her hands. Upon identifying a potential threat, the servers would likely have drawn their weapons & sought cover. Reasonably, they would have kept talking to the individual as they called 911. On the other had, if the homeowner came out of the door and raised the shotgun, that’s a different story. Regardless, this is all conjecture, because no one on this thread was present.

drahcir61 October 4, 2024 (7:20 am)

Misinformation. Full stop.

Many people have lost their jobs, lost families & relationships, been disbarred or in this case, lost her license to practice medicine in the state of Washington. As a result, many of them have lost their homes, lost their savings, and have staggering legal costs … all a direct result of misinformation, more specifically, believing that the 2020 election was rigged & stolen, it wasn’t.

Those who spread lies & continue to spread lies could care less about how it affects others, all they want is what benefits them the most, usually power.

Whether MS played a role in the decisions this woman made over the past few years we don’t know, although many that knew her are certainly convinced. Still, if it weren’t for the spread of lies … disinformation by seemingly reputable people & organizations many lives would be much better today … sad.

1994 October 4, 2024 (10:05 pm)

At the end of Drahcir61’s comment (which I totally agree with) ” Those who spread lies & continue to spread lies could care less about how it affects others, all they want is what benefits them the most, usually power. ” I would add attention…. ‘all they want is what benefits them the most, usually power and attention.’

CAM October 4, 2024 (7:21 am)

I don’t know this woman and would have no way of knowing if she had a diagnosable mental illness or if the MS others are saying she suffered from caused symptoms consistent with mental illness. What I do know, and what many here are glossing over, is that there are many people who have become radicalized by conspiracy theories, had extreme behavior changes, and engaged in violent acts that do not have mental illnesses or MS. In fact the majority of the people in QANON and other domestic terrorism cults do not have a mental illness and some had long professional careers with extensive social circles prior to becoming involved in those groups. Just because a person’s behavior can’t be explained, doesn’t align with society’s standards, and makes people uncomfortable doesn’t make it mental illness. Please be a little more thoughtful about how you cast that term around.

Reasonable Person October 10, 2024 (7:45 am)

Wow – all these replies are so biassed!A woman living alone, sees 2 armed men lurking around her house, she comes to her door with a shotgun – this is reasonable defense of herself and property; she did not aim the gun at them.How about the 2 armed men lay the papers on the ground and leave, if they were truly there to serve her?Why were they armed?! Did they have proper permits for this?!They were intruding on her property – this is crazy.The shooter should be arrested immediately.

JM October 12, 2024 (2:22 am)

Is there any follow up on this story? We haven’t heard a peep about the process servers and it’s surprising that their names haven’t been released by now. Several of us would like to know more about their background and why they murdered this doctor. It is very disturbing that this happened in West Seattle and appears that the complete story is being swept under the carpet.

WSB October 12, 2024 (2:38 am)

No, it’s not surprising at all. Police do not generally release names of people involved in cases who are not arrested for/charged with anything. The fact no one has been arrested/charged doesn’t necessarily mean no one ever will be, of course. The full police report should eventually be available via PDR.
Al King October 12, 2024 (8:13 am)

JM. You have proof she didn’t point a gun at them and threaten their lives? You’ve given a statement to police with your evidence? You used the word “murder” so clearly you have facts to provide. Please share.
- JM October 17, 2024 (10:24 pm)
  
  The story reports that the victim “presented a gun” and that it hadn’t been fired. This is the statement from the police, which I believe was reported to them from the process servers themselves.Her gun may not have even been loaded. We don’t know. There have been no follow-ups on this story. The victim died of multiple gunshot wounds and never fired her gun. It sounds like you’re justifying this, possibly because you’re against her political affiliation.

Rodger A. Cottrell October 16, 2024 (7:36 am)

What a sad and tragic story. The death of this 57 year old lady by violent means during the alleged service of process in a civil matter is almost incomprehensible.Service of process should be done by mail if possible and in person only if absolutely necessary. It is apparent she was living at the residence which certainly suggests she could have been served by mail. Why was it necessary to make the service in person, actually by two people. I have to wonder why it would take two people to make service of process. Makes no sense to me. They were carrying weapons. Concealed or open carry? Open carry could definitely be perceived as a potential threat to the resident and could explain her possession of a shotgun when she opened the door. We will probably never know the real reason for this tragedy since she is dead and unable to present her side of the story.