A 20-year-old volunteer Emergency Medical Technician was shot dead by a stranger who burst into a Washington state clinic where the vi...
A 20-year-old volunteer Emergency Medical Technician was shot dead by a stranger who burst into a Washington state clinic where the victim worked at the front desk and opened fire on her, before taking his own life on Tuesday.
Just before 1pm, officers with the Vancouver Police Department were called to the 505 NE 87th Avenue medical office building, which is part of the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center's campus, for reports of a shooting.
The responding officers found a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds, and rushed them to the main hospital's emergency department, where both were later pronounced dead.
Volunteer EMT Liliya Zagariya (left and right), 20, was fatally shot in the chest as she worked at the front desk at a medical center in Vancouver, Washington, on Tuesday afternoon
Police responded to the 505 NE 87th Avenue medical office building, which is part of the PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center's campus, for a report of a shooting
Police said the gunman, 58-year-old Douglas Moore, took his own life after killing Zagariya
The victim was identified as Liliya Zagariya, who worked as a receptionist at PeaceHealth while preparing to enter a fire academy to become a paramedic.
The man who police say shot Zagariya in the chest was identified as 58-year-old Douglas Moore, of Vancouver. Investigators said the attack appears to have been random.
There was nothing to suggest that the two people knew each other, police added.
The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Zagariya's death a homicide and Moore's a suicide.
The PeaceHealth building houses several outpatient medical offices, including a vision center, oncology and infusion services and a sleep disorders clinic.
Zagariya was just weeks away from entering a fire academy to become a paramedic
The clinic building and the main hospital were placed in lockdown, and the clinic building was also evacuated. No other injuries were reported.
'Our thoughts, support and prayers go out to her family. All of us grieve with them,' PeaceHealth stated. 'We are partnering with the Vancouver Police Department in this active investigation.'
Zagariya was a certified EMT and had volunteered with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue since May, reported The Columbian.
Lt. Bryan Ditterick, with Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue, described Zagariya as a valued EMT who was well-liked by the firefighters.
'She was a vibrant young lady,' he told Fox 12. 'She was always eager to help and would ask questions when we were on medical calls.'
Ditterick said Zagariya was just weeks away from enrolling in Cowlitz 2's fire academy.
'You know she was going to be successful in fire service,' he said.
The clinic building and the main hospital were placed in lockdown, and the clinic building was also evacuated
Meanwhile, Zagariya's sister, Alla Zagariya, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help their family pay for Liliya's funeral.
'Liliya was an amazing and wonderful daughter, sister and friend,' Alla wrote in the fundraiser's description. 'She lit up the room with her presence and always had a smile on her face.
'Her death was so sudden and she was taken away from us so quickly, it is hard to grasp and comprehend all this at the moment. Though it is hard, we count it all as joy for we know that Liliya is with Jesus.'
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