MOSCOW, Idaho -- Police reported three shooting incidents Saturday afternoon in Moscow, Idaho involving a gunman and four victims.
Three of the victims are dead. The victims have been identified as Moscow businessman David Trail, 76, Arby's manager Belinda Niebuhr, 47, and the suspect's adoptive mother Terri Grzebielski, 61.
The gunman, 29-year-old John Lee, was later captured. Officials said he knew all but one of his victims.
Authorities said Lee shot Grzebielski at her home in the 400 block of Veatch Street in Moscow. Officers said another shooting happened at the offices of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance on 3rd Street in Moscow at 2:30 p.m. Officials said Trail and Michael Chin, 39, were shot by Lee during that encounter. They said Chin was able to call police after the shooting. Trail was transported to Pullman Regional Hospital and was later pronounced dead. Chin was transported to Gritman Medical Center before being flown to a Seattle hospital and is in critical condition.
Moscow Police Chief David Duke said that Trail, the brother of a former Idaho state representative, was Lee's landlord. He said there were "some issues" regarding the apartment, but didn't know of any eviction proceeding.
Police say a third shooting occurred at the Arby's on Peterson Drive. They said Lee entered the restaurant and asked for the manager, pulled out a gun and opened fire. Niebuhr was transported to Gritman Medical Center and was declared dead.
Investigators were trying to determine if there were any links between Lee and the Arby's manager.
Officials said Lee fled in a black Honda. When police tried to pull him over, a pursuit ensued. Lee later crashed his car around 3:20 p.m. on Highway 195 and was taken into custody. The car left the roadway northbound 195 at milepost 47 and rolled. Lee was taken into the Whitman County Jail and charged with felony eluding. Investigators said they have not recovered the gun but they believe it is still in the car. No word yet on a motive. Authorities are working to get Lee extradited back to Moscow. No word yet on what he will be charged with in Idaho.
People who knew Lee's first victim, Terri Grzebielski, said she was a physician's assistant at Moscow Family medicine. They said she also played in some local bands and that she was full of life and very well liked. Neighbors said she leaves behind a husband, another adopted child and a biological child.
The second victim, David Trail, was a businessman. He worked as a financial consultant for Northwest Mutual.
The third victim, Belinda Niebuhr, was a veteran manager at the Arby's on Peterson. The vice president for the local company that owns that Arby's said her loss is a huge hit for their family.
"We lost a manager and an employee of 7 years tonight. And that's where our hearts and minds are right now," said Happy Day Corporate Operations Vice President, Pat Rogers.
After the shooting, Washington State University sent out two text alerts to students. They let students know that there was not an active threat to the Pullman campus but urged them to use caution
The University of Idaho issued a statement Saturday offering sympathy to the friends and family of the victims.
The statement said, "We are deeply saddened by the violence today that seriously injured one person and claimed the lives of three others; two from our Vandal family. Moscow Family Medicine Physician's Assistant Terri Grzebielski was a provider at the UI Student Health Center for many years where she was highly valued and respected. David Trail was a Vandal alumnus and longtime UI supporter. He graduated from UI in 1964 with a bachelor of science in business and agronomy. His dedication to the community and to the university will be sorely missed."
Law enforcement from Moscow, Latah County, Idaho State Police, as well as Washington agencies are investigating the incident.
