2 dead in shooting at California maintenance facility
by The Associated Press
Tuesday, April 25th 2017
RIO DELL, Calif. (AP) — A work-related dispute escalated into a shooting Monday that left two people dead at a California Department of Transportation maintenance facility in Northern California.
California Highway Patrol investigators said they believe a Caltrans employee got into an altercation with his supervisor around 7 a.m. at the facility in Rio Dell, about 190 miles (305 kilometers) northwest of Sacramento.
The worker then grabbed a handgun and fired several rounds at the supervisor, killing her, before shooting himself.
She was found dead at the scene, and he died at the hospital.
The supervisor was identified as Annette Brooks, 61, of Carlotta and the shooter was Terry Hayse, 57, of Rio Dell, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said.
Gov. Jerry Brown said Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Brooks. He offered his and his wife's condolences to her family and friends.
"The tragic death of this dedicated public servant is a shock to the entire Caltrans family," Brown said.
Details of the investigation have not been released.
A Caltrans spokeswoman said they were members of a painting crew.
"News of this tragedy shocks and saddens everyone at Caltrans. Our thoughts naturally are with the families," Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty said in a statement.
Brooks is the 187th Caltrans employee to lose her life on the job, Brown said.
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RIO DELL, Calif (CBS13) — We’re learning new details about a Caltrans supervisor murdered at work by an employee who then turned the gun on himself. The CHP is investigating the deadly workplace shooting at a Caltrans facility in Rio Dell. CHP investigators say Caltrans employee Terry Allen Hayse killed himself, after first killing his supervisor, Annette Brooks.
Brooks was a 36 year veteran at Caltrans, and worked as a structural steel painter supervisor. She was also president of a decorative painting club. A friend says she was planning a retreat for the group this weekend. “We’re all devastated at the loss,” Karen Wagner said. Wagner says Brooks hadn’t told her about any problems at work, and remembers her friend as full of life. “She was energetic and she was ready to go,” Wagner said. “She figured we could do anything.”
Sheriff’s deputies say the murder-suicide escalated from a work-related issue. The employee retrieved a handgun and fired several rounds at the supervisor, killing her, before turning the handgun on himself. Caltrans’ director released a statement reading:
“News of this tragedy shocks and saddens everyone at Caltrans. Our thoughts naturally are with the families. The exact details are under investigation, and Caltrans is cooperating with law enforcement.”
Governor Jerry Brown released a statement about the shooting as well:
“The tragic death of this dedicated public servant is a shock to the entire Caltrans family. Anne and I send our deepest sympathies to Annette’s family, friends and her colleagues during this difficult time.”
According to the Governor’s office, Annette Brooks is the 187th Caltrans employee to lose her life on the job and in honor of Brooks, the flags at the Capitol will be flown at half-staff.