Officials Seek Motive In Shooting Rampage -- Apparent Suicide Follows Bangor, Bremerton Killings

Investigators are still looking for a motive in the case of a Bangor submarine-base sailor who apparently killed himself after fatally shooting two sailors and a Bremerton pawnshop clerk.

Investigators yesterday retraced the sailor's final hours, from a motor-vehicle accident in Bremerton, to his detention for suspected drunken driving, to his apparent suicide in a Vancouver-area hotel more than 150 miles south.

Shyam David Drizpaul, 22, of Milwaukee, Wis., has been identified as the sailor whom police believe killed two fellow sailors and then shot the pawnshop worker and her brother while apparently trying to buy a gun.

David Allen Parker, 21, of San Diego, and Scott Anthony Seely, 18, of Ridgeville, Ohio, were found dead Tuesday morning at their barracks on the submarine base in Kitsap County.

Julie Lynn Tuscher, 24, was killed inside the Bremerton pawnshop Tuesday morning. Her brother, Allan Michaels, 28, was wounded. Michaels was in serious condition early today at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Drizpaul, who joined the Navy in March 1987, served on the USS Michigan, a Trident nuclear submarine, as a fire-control technician. Seely and Parker also served on the Michigan, said Navy spokesman Gene Romano.

``The submarine service is a very select group within the military and recruits undergo intensive training to not only perform their duties, but obviously the life aboard the submarine is a

different life,'' Romano said.

In Milwaukee, relatives told the Associated Press they didn't believe that Drizpaul could have

killed the two sailors.

Wilfred R. Massidas, 28, an uncle of Drizpaul, said yesterday that his nephew, who graduated from Milwaukee Tech High School, was a ``very intelligent kid'' who initially joined the Navy to earn benefits for college but decided to stay because he liked it so well.

``He is not the killer,'' Massidas said. ``This kid that I know, he is not a killer.''

Drizpaul was involved in a minor auto accident in Bremerton Monday afternoon, the Navy said.

Naval investigators said they now believe Seely and Parker died in their barracks between 11 p.m. and midnight Monday.

But at 2:45 a.m. Tuesday - before the bodies were discovered - security officers stopped Drizpaul as he was trying to enter at a Bangor gate.

Drizpaul, who apparently had received no previous disciplinary actions in the Navy, was detained by officers for allegedly driving while intoxicated, Romano said. Security officers also confiscated a 9mm Llama pistol found in the vehicle and impounded the car Drizpaul was driving, Romano said.

A breath test for alcohol also was conducted, but Romano said he didn't have the results.

Drizpaul was released after being detained two hours and was turned over to the duty officer from his command. That type of release of a drunken-driving suspect is standard procedure, Romano said.

The duty officer escorted Drizpaul to the barracks, and he was instructed to report to the administration building in the morning.

``The duty officer from the USS Michigan . . . did not observe any unusual behavior by Drizpaul . . . His conduct did not indicate that he had been involved in any kind of crime, other than the DUI,'' the Navy said in a written statement.

Later Tuesday morning, Seely, Parker and Drizpaul were discovered missing.

Crew members then began a search and found Seely's body in a small television lounge on the second floor of the barracks at about 10:30 a.m. Parker's body was found in his bed about an hour later. Drizpaul and Parker shared a room on the barracks' second floor, where Seely also lived.

Shortly after Seely's body was found, police said, they believe Drizpaul entered the Charleston Pawn Shop in Bremerton.

Capt. Dennis Plumb said police believe Drizpaul asked to purchase a gun similar to the one Naval officers had confiscated.

Plumb theorized that when Drizpaul was told of the required three-day waiting period in purchasing handguns, he became frustrated and opened fire, killing Tuscher and wounding her brother.

``The only motive that we know exists as far as our shooting is concerned is that the guy wanted to get a gun,'' Plumb said.

Drizpaul then apparently drove south to Hazel Dell, Clark County, where he pulled into the Value Motel just off Interstate 5.

Motel desk clerk Geraldine Boltz said Drizpaul was dressed in civilian clothes when he came in about 9 p.m. Tuesday

``He was very quiet, a very personable fellow and very polite,'' she said.

Boltz said she passed by his room several times and never heard any noise.

About noon Wednesday, a motel maid found Drizpaul dead in his room.

In the room, police found a gun they said had been stolen from the Bremerton pawnshop. Outside the motel was a car stolen from one of the slain sailors.

The three sailors' bodies were taken to Bremerton Naval Hospital, where autopsies are scheduled to be conducted today, Romano said.

Bremerton police intend to interview Michaels, but said they don't expect him to be able to talk until next week.