By John Curran
Essex, Vermont - Angry over a bitter breakup, bakery worker Christopher A. Williams apparently set out to kill his former girlfriend, police believe. He never found her.
But police say he found four other people - and killed two of them - in a shooting rampage Thursday that began at her house, continued at an elementary school and ended when he shot himself in the head.
Williams, 26, was expected to survive, despite suffering two gunshot wounds to the head. He was hospitalized in fair condition at Fletcher Allen Health Care hospital in nearby Burlington.
The shootings began around 2pm, when Williams showed up at the home he shared with ex-girlfriend Andrea Lambesis and her mother, Linda Lambesis, 57, according to Police Chief David Demag.
Williams shot the elder woman to death, then went to Essex Elementary School in search of her daughter, Demag said. Though the school was still in summer recess, about 39 staffers were working - including the younger Lambesis, a teacher. It wasn't clear where she was in the building, but Williams didn't find her.
He opened fire on two other people instead, fatally shooting teacher Mary Shanks, 56, and wounding employee Mary Snedeker, 52, Demag said.
Some employees were seen running from the school, heads down, while others hid.
While SWAT teams and sheriff's deputies were searching the halls, Williams escaped and went to the condominium complex where acquaintance Chad Johansen, 26, lives, police said. Their relationship was unclear Thursday.
Jillian Schultz, 22, a resident of the condominiums, said a sweaty and disheveled Williams called out "Where's Chad? Where's Chad?" as he ran by her. Schultz was in the yard playing with her 13-month-old son and Johansen's 2-year-old son at the time.
Moments later, she heard four gunshots and saw bullets rip through bushes 10 feet away. Then she saw Johansen come toward the building, bleeding from the back and yelling to her to call 911.
Williams then turned the gun on himself, shooting himself in the head twice before being arrested, police said. Despite the wounds, he was talking to officers as they took him away, Demag said.
Williams, who was hospitalised under police guard, could be charged Friday, acting State's Attorney Margaret Vincent said.
Johansen was listed in fair condition and Snedeker was still being evaluated late on Thursday at Fletcher Allen Health Care, spokesperson Mike Noble said. - Sapa-AP
- Associated Press writers Wilson Ring and Larry Laughlin contributed to this report.