Jewish Federation shooting victim may leave hospital in three weeks

The woman who suffered the most serious injuries of the five women who survived last month's shooting rampage at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle may be able to go home from the hospital in three weeks.

Layla Bush, 23, was shot in the shoulder and abdomen on July 28. Bush, the federation receptionist, had been at her desk when prosecutors say Naveed Afzal Haq forced his way into the Belltown office and demanded to see a manager. He then opened fire.

Haq, 30, is accused of shooting Bush, Dayna Klein, Carol Goldman, Cheryl Stumbo and Christina Rexroad, charging papers say. He wounded 58-year-old Pamela Waechter, then killed her as she fled.

Brad Bush the injured woman's father, said this morning that neither he nor his daughter want prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

"I think he should spend the rest of his life in prison," Bush said during a news conference at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

When the gunman walked up to Layla Bush's desk she thought he was a "stick em up" robber, her father said. Following his order to get a manager, Layla put her hands into the air while she retrieved Waechter and they were both shot, Bush said.

A bullet went through Layla's left shoulder and another bored into her stomach, spleen, pancreas, liver, kidney and bruised her aorta. The bullet came to rest just outside her spine, nestled in nerve roots that control her right leg, said Dr. Ronald Maier.

Doctors won't likely remove the bullet, Maier added.

Layla is now learning how to stand again, with the assistance of a walker. She will soon return to eating solid foods and has intensive physical therapy ahead of her, Maier said.

"She should become essentially normal," Maier said.

Haq, of Pasco, who claimed his actions were in response to U.S. foreign policy and his hatred of Jews, is charged with one count of aggravated first-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary and malicious harassment. The only possible punishments for aggravated first-degree murder are life in prison without the possibility of release or the death penalty.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com