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Apt. 35 shooting was murder-suicide
The deadly scene at Apartment 35 on Wednesday was the result of a suicidal ex-boyfriend determined to take out the woman who sent him packing.
Kenneth Alfred, 63, of Palo Cedro, instead killed his ex-girlfriend’s house guest, Nancy Bosley, 63, of San Jose, before turning the gun on himself, police said today.
Bosley was staying with Patricia Haggard, at her apartment complex at 2001 Hartnell Ave. in Redding.
Alfred and Haggard had been dating, but Haggard broke off the relationship and had obtained a temporary restraining order in June against Alfred, police said.
On Tuesday, both appeared in Shasta County Superior Court on the restraining order, which was extended.
Early Wednesday, Alfred left a suicide note in his residence in Palo Cedro and headed for Hartnell in Redding armed with a handgun.
Police say they believe Alfred entered the apartment about 7 a.m. He confronted Haggard’s daughter, Shasta Maw, 27, of Redding, her friend Phillip Lampella, 28, of Redding, and Bosley and shot them all.
Lampella and Maw were able to take refuge in a bedroom, barricading themselves in for safety.
Alfred doused Haggard with a flammable liquid and set her on fire. Then he shot himself.
Haggard fled the apartment with severe burns on her upper torso, telling officers there had been a shooting. She was taken to UC Davis Medical Center and is listed in critical condition.
Lampella is in stable condition at Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound to the shoulder.
Maw is in stable condition at Mercy Hospital with a gunshot wound to the lower torso.
Police say the precise details will come when survivors are interviewed again after they are sufficiently recovered. Autopsies on Alfred and Bosley are scheduled for Monday.
Information from Redding Police Department Investigations Division
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This is such a tragedy. When things like this happen, I can’t help but ask myself what could have been done to prevent such a violent incident. There really is no single cure for this kind of senseless violence, but I think we, as a community, can be more aware of what is going on around us. And just be more neighborly.
A man troubled enough to shoot three people, light a loved one on fire, and then kill himself does not mill about without exhibiting some signs of emotional and/or mental unrest. There were likely incidents that should have brought Mr. Alfred to the attention of law enforcement and/or mental health professionals even long before Ms. Haggard filed a restraining order against him.
A woman who successfully obtains– and then receives an extension of– a restraining order has likely experienced physical and/or emotional abuse that has been witnessed by others.
One doesn’t necessarily have t o get inappropriately involved in these situations to help prevent tragedy. A simple, “Are you okay?” or “Can I help?” or “Did you know there are options/resources available?” can help defend against future incidences of this magnitude.
Know your neighbors. Connect with them. Knowing something is amiss and doing nothing about is NOT OKAY.
Wait… now I’ve read elsewhere that Judge Halpin ruled that the restraining order against Mr. Alfred would not be linked to the law enforcement database, so that his pharmacology license would not be potentially impacted by the action. This makes me wonder: how many other times was Mr. Alfred given preferential treatment based on his career stature or other social consideration instead of facing the consequences of his aggressive behavior?
On so many levels, this is NOT OKAY. Am I the only one who thinks this way????
Having been a colleague of Ken Alfred and working with him for a number of years at Owens Pharmacy, this story came as a total shock. I hadn’t seen Ken for a number of years but only knew him as a consummate family man. Life throws many curves at us …not to mention the ones we throw at ourselves…..people can unpredictably snap ….unfortunately others can innocently be the target…
My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and family members …