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Son of Wash. Lt. Governor shot

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by KING5.com Staff

Posted on November 9, 2009 at 6:22 PM

Updated Monday, Nov 9 at 11:31 PM

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KENT, Wash. – The son of Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owen was shot by his employer at a Kent auto body shop Monday afternoon, law enforcement sources tell KING 5 News.

The shooting happened at about 2:30 p.m. at KBP Paints - a paint, body and fabrications shop - at 831 5th Avenue S.

Police say Mark Owen is a part-time bookkeeper at the shop and had gotten into an argument of some sort with his employer. The employer allegedly shot Owen in the arm and abdomen, and then later shot himself in the head.

"The person who shot my son is also one of my very best friends," said Brad Owen. "From what I understand, they'd had a meeting, it didn't go too well. Carlos got upset and confronted my son."

He said his son and the owner had a rocky relationship as of late, most recently dealing with financial troubles.

Both were rushed to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Owen is in satisfactory condition. His employer was last reported to have life-threatening injuries.

Sources tell KING 5 News that the employer has recently been despondent and suicidal.

"The other person came out and attempted to commit suicide in front of those employees in the main area of the building," said Kent Police Chief Steve Strachan.

Monday night, with his best friend in critical condition and his son recovering from surgery, Brad Owen finds himself grappling with many emotions.

Brad Owen has been Lt. Governor of Washington since 1996. He has six children.

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randolphlsmith said on November 9, 2009 at 7:07 PM

Sounds like another small business crushed under the pressures of trying to survive during these hard times?

randolphlsmith said on November 9, 2009 at 7:10 PM

Another small business crushed under pressures from where ?

ncwlocal said on November 9, 2009 at 8:06 PM

How does pressure of trying to survive have anything to do with some dangerous lunatic shooting an employee over an agument?

bazwest said on November 9, 2009 at 10:28 PM

This is a new twist. Seems to me it is usually unstable ex employees that do the shooting. Perhaps he was despondent about the new healthcare bill that will require him to pay for health insurance for his employees or pay a huge fine.

burien206 said on November 9, 2009 at 11:37 PM

Wow, you people have nothing better to do than call an apparently ill person (-Look up the word Depression!) a lunatic and make a crack at the new healthcare bill. I've known the owner of the body shop and his family for years. His son is my best friend. The man I know to be his father would never do something like this! He is not the first person to lose sight of his right mind, and he won't be the last. STOP JUDGING!!!!

ncwlocal said on November 9, 2009 at 11:52 PM

Its not judgement. Its fact. He SHOT someone with a deadly weapon. This is different than him having some kind of emo breakdown. Personally, I couldnt care less what he is going through....NOTHING gets him off the hook for shooting someone! Welcome to the concept of accountability. As far as his good name goes...that went out the window when he pulled the trigger. I understand you are looking out for your friend but at the same time...I have every right to call someone a lunatic, when they shoot someone in anything other than true self defense. The truth may hurt...but its still the truth. Oh and as far as "ill" is concerned....at this point im more concerned about the condition of the man sitting in the hospital that he gunned down. Your friend deserves not a single pounce of any pity or sympathy at this point. He is NOT the victim here!

burien206 said on November 10, 2009 at 9:18 AM

So true. There is never any excuse to resort to violence. But there are two vicitims here. You do not know the whole story. Yes, it is true both parties were in the wrong at the time of the argument. Mr. Fernadez should have called the authories on Mr.Owen instead of taking the law into his own hands. These families are both suffering right now as they are long time friends. Please people, no matter how hard things get there is always a way out. Be Good To One Other~ Burien 206

rainrain said on November 10, 2009 at 10:21 AM

So Mark is in satisfactory condition, while the shooter Carlos is in critical condition. Hmm, I wonder if this was a set up. It all sounds suspicious. I hope they get to the truth, and not do a coverup because he is the son of the lt governor. But we have heard the end to this story before. I smell a rat or bookkeeper theft.

ryanduh said on November 10, 2009 at 1:55 PM

According to the news reports, it was at 2 separate locations. The first one was that of the employee and then after that the shooter tried to commit suicide in front of his employees.

estibaliz said on November 12, 2009 at 2:17 PM

espero que podáis traducir, aunque no os lo creáis la víctima es Carlos Fernández, ha sido una victima de este chico de 31 años, si no fuese así y no lo supieran los que le rodean, el padre no hubiese hablado con tanto sentimiento hacia su amigo como lo hizo en el hospital. Ahora solo hay que tener la esperanza, que salga toda la información y se limpiara el nombre de Carlos. Pensad que haríais si creaseis una empresa, y por ayudar a un chico problemático e hijo de un gran amigo, lo hacéis trabajar en vuestra empresa y os arruina, en el momento que veis la cuenta del banco a 0, posiblemente sería una reacción tan fuerte como la que ha pasado. Carlos no se merecia acabar así, y espero se descubra la suciedad que le ha rodeado con ese chico de 31 años. Saludos.

mystikal5 said on November 15, 2009 at 8:46 PM

It amazes me how incredibly sick people are in here judging something they know nothing about. If this man was such a lunatic than why would Brad Owen himself go to the memorial of the man that shot his son and speak nothing but great things about him. Obviously because he can understand the circumstances that none of you know nothing about. Obviously because there is way way more to the story than was released and obviously because he knows exactly what kind of person his son is. Why would the Honorary Consul of Spain come speak on behalf of the King and Government of Spain as well. That is because this man has done great things for many many people. Reached and changed so many peoples lives and could accomplish more in one year than I bet any of you will ever do in your entire life time. The pain Mark got from his wound is nothing compared to the pain he caused such a giving a trusting man the last year of his life and the pain that many friends and family will suffer.