Man who killed grandson, self suffered from depression

By Christopher Schwarzen and Jennifer Sullivan
Times Snohomish County bureau

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The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Roy Bryan Hetherwick, 58, and the boy as Roy Brennan Hetherwick, 5.

According to Hetherwick's wife, Quenzer said, Hetherwick took medication for depression but had never talked of injuring the child. In a release issued this afternoon, Monroe police said officers responded to the house on July 2, when they found Hetherwick "despondent and feeling suicidal." He was taken voluntarily to Valley General Hospital for a mental-health evaluation.

At about 6:35 p.m. last night, Hetherwick pulled into the Monroe Police Department parking lot, got out of the car, yelled something inaudible and began firing. Both he and the boy died after being shot in the head, according to police. A police support-staff member saw the shooting, Quenzer said.

Hetherwick left a note on the windshield that said he didn't believe he could take care of the child anymore and didn't think any other family member could either, Quenzer said. Hetherwick and his wife live in unincorporated Snohomish County near Monroe and were in the process of adopting the boy. The woman said the child's parents are separated and live somewhere in Texas, but she didn't have their addresses, Quenzer said.

It's unclear where Hetherwick obtained the semi-automatic handgun. His wife told police that she didn't know he owned a firearm.

Police were unsure why Hetherwick chose police headquarters for the shootings.

"Our theory about why this occurred in front of the police department is that he knew it (contacting the family) would get taken care of," Quenzer said. "He gave us his address on the note and provided all of the necessary information."

Christopher Schwarzen: 425-783-0577 or cschwarzen@seattletimes.com

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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