Authorities said they had located the man wanted in the random murder of 3 people at a convenience store in Yakima, Washington, Tuesday, after he borrowed a stranger’s cell phone to call his mother and confess what he had done .
The three victims were found dead by Yakima police at a Circle K convenience store around 3:30 a.m. PT, according to Yakima Police Chief Matt Murray. The suspect was identified as Jarid Haddock, 21, of Yakima County.
Police had surrounded Haddock’s childhood home after Tuesday’s pre-dawn killings, but he wasn’t there, Murray said at a news conference. Instead, Haddock had gone to a Target store in town, borrowed a woman’s phone and called his mother.
According to Murray, the woman heard Haddock make several incriminating statements, such as “I killed those people” and that he would “commit suicide”.
“I listened to that call – it’s quite distressing,” said Murray. “I really have to thank her again because she was very brave to get us there.”
The woman managed to get her phone back and separated from Haddock before calling 911 to report his whereabouts, Murray said.
‘DISRUPT TREND’:More police officers die from gun violence today than a decade ago
‘ONLY IN AMERICA’:Gov. Newsom decries gun violence during Half Moon Bay visit after 7 deaths: Updates
After the 911 call, officers were able to locate Haddock behind some warehouses who apparently shot himself before officers arrived on the scene, Murray said. Officers heard gunshots, but there were no eyewitnesses, Murray added.
The shooter was pronounced dead at the scene after authorities attempted to provide medical care, Murray confirmed. At the location of the suspect, the police found a large amount of ammunition and a weapon.
An investigation into the incidents is ongoing and a motive is still unknown, Murray said.
While the shooting appears to be random, according to eyewitness accounts, Murray stressed that authorities don’t know if it was a random act.
“I want to be very clear, I don’t think we know and may never know,” said Murray.
Citing Circle K video footage, Murray said there was no interaction between the suspect and victims before the shooting. Later, Haddock left Circle K and fired at another individual before driving away in his own vehicle.
Haddock also did nothing to hide his identity during the incident, Murray said.
Authorities had closed sections of several roads in Yakima on Tuesday as they searched for Haddock for hours.
The deadly shooting comes after the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay, California, on Monday and also follows Saturday’s deadly blaze at a popular ballroom in Monterey Park, California.
Yakima has a population of nearly 100,000 and is located about 140 miles southeast of Seattle.
Contributions: The The Bharat Express News
11 DEATH:Families remember the deaths in the Monterey Park mass shooting
Contributions: The The Bharat Express News
