Originally published March 12, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified March 12, 2008 at 6:32 PM
State to pay $2.25 million to settle suit over shooting rampage
The Washington State Department of Corrections has agreed to pay more than $2 million to the families of five California children who were wounded by a prison parolee in 1999.
Seattle Times staff reporter
The Washington State Department of Corrections has agreed to pay more than $2 million to the families of five California children who were shot and wounded by a prison parolee in 1999.
Buford Furrow Jr., a self-avowed white supremacist, pleaded guilty to the shootings at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Southern California as well as the slaying of postal worker Joseph Ileto. In 2006, the families of the wounded children filed a $15 million claim against the state Department of Corrections.
The claim contends corrections officials failed to monitor Furrow sufficiently to prevent him from obtaining the guns he used in the shootings. The agency also failed to obtain his psychiatric records and assess his mental health, and it should have paid more attention to his white-supremacist ties, according to the lawsuit. Corrections Chief Eldon Vail announced the $2.25 million settlement this morning.
"This was a tragedy that shocked us all. The victims and their families have our deepest sympathies," Vail said in a news release.
Furrow Jr. is serving a life sentence in a federal prison.
Furrow graduated from Timberline High School in Lacey, Thurston County, in 1979. He once lived in Pend Oreille County with Debra Mathews, widow of Robert Mathews, who founded the neo-Nazi group The Order.
According to law-enforcement accounts at the time, in 1999 Furrow drove to Los Angeles from his home in Washington in a van loaded with weapons. Over a period of days, he allegedly scouted out several Jewish institutions for attack. He settled on the community center.
After firing more than 70 rounds at the center, Furrow left. He then walked up to Ileto, asked him to mail a letter and shot him.
Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
Seattle safety project: A snake shelter on Beacon Hill

2009 fireworks time lapse
With strict parking rules enforced at this year's July 4th celebration on Wallingford Ave North, less cars and more spectators filled the streets.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Sunday, Jul. 5th
- Emery's Garden Pink Flamingo Sale
- REI Summer Sale and Clearance
- Pink Ginger First Anniversary Sale
- Evo Independence Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Former NFL MVP McNair killed
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Russell Branyan, Mariners fight off the Red Sox
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Palin takes to Web for hints of political future
- Fourth of July festivals and fireworks in Seattle, the suburbs and beyond
- Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
- The Blotter | Man pistol-whipped after argument at nightclub
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Palin resigning as Alaska governor
783 - Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox: 07/05 game thread
247 - Palin links resignation to 'higher calling' and blasts media in Facebook posting
161 - Hatred for the NBA runs deep, but don't take it out on the players
122 - Tukwila residents rally against light-rail noise
111 - Former NFL MVP McNair killed
110 - Property taxes: Appeals shoot up is King, Snohomish Counties
101 - Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
88 - Anti-tax rally in Olympia attracts about 1,500
57 - Seeking your questions
46
- Plasma and LCD beware; OLED screens ready to go mainstream
- Property taxes: Appeals shoot up in King, Snohomish Counties
- Merchant Marine veterans fight for recognition
- Hard times for tourist towns means good deals for travelers
- Landmark Smith Tower mostly vacant
- Close-up | Prison guards intercept carrier pigeon with a cellphone
- Pre-grill drill: marinate steaks
- Amtrak cleared for 2nd daily train to Vancouver, B.C.
- Concert Review | Green Day blasts off 4th weekend with KeyArena show
- Tent City on campus: UW stalls decision
