Bellevue Gun Shop Scene Of Another Tragedy; Man Shot

BELLEVUE - He strolled in, rented gun in hand, took his position at a firing range, then began shooting. He loaded and unloaded. After firing dozens of rounds, the 27-year-old Seattle man fired a shot that hit his head and left him clinging to life.

"We are not prepared to say at this point if this was a suicide or not," said Bellevue Police Lt. Bill Ferguson. "We know next to nothing about our subject at this point."

The man, whose name was not released, was found about 2:30 p.m. Another customer at Wade's Gun Shop discovered the body and summoned the staff, who called an ambulance and police.

None of the four other patrons at the range saw the shooting, police said, although video cameras might have captured the scene. Investigators are studying the videotape.

"You can clearly see him walk in and take up a position," said Ferguson, who would not provide further details.

Wade Gaughran, the owner of the firing range, refused to comment.

The man was taken to Overlake Hospital Medical Center, where he was listed in extremely critical condition. The man was pronounced dead on arrival, but his vital signs returned five to 10 minutes later, said Todd Langton, hospital spokesman. He was then put on life support.

Police plan to talk with the man's family and friends to get a sense of his frame of mind.

"At this point, we have to gather some background. We have to find out how his day was going," Ferguson said.

Investigators rummaged through the man's car looking for clues.

The man arrived at the firing range before 2:30 p.m., rented a 9-mm Glock semiautomatic and bought a box of ammunition containing 50 rounds. After firing off all the rounds, he bought a second box, police said.

He was nearly through the second box when he was shot.

In April, Michael Chumney, 24, was fatally wounded at the gun range, at 13570 N.E. Bellevue-Redmond Road, after a Kirkland woman lost control of the gun she was firing. The .44-caliber revolver recoiled, and the next round struck Chumney, who was standing behind her.

Video cameras, however, failed to record that incident. Police said the shooting was accidental.

Earlier this year, another woman was shot in the thigh at the gun range during a gun-safety class.