Startling footage released Friday at the trial of a woman accused of attempted murder at her Gibsons, B.C., care home last year captures the chilling moments before and after the shootings.
Linda Howe, 41, is charged with three counts of attempted murder at the Good Samaritan Christenson Village on March 31, 2009. The incident saw a manager wounded and two other staff members shot at.
Howe, who suffered a brain injury three years before moving in, was facing eviction at the time of the incident. She was later shot and wounded by police when she allegedly tried to steal a car after fleeing the scene.
The video released to CTV News shows Howe's room heavily barricaded with black bags. After several minutes it shows manager Kenn Perrier entering the room, preparing to hand Howe the eviction notice.
Seconds later, he is shot – the bullet ripping through his arm and into his side. He doubles over before fleeing.
Howe is then seen entering the hallway with a large loaded rifle in her hand. She faces to the left and fires multiple times down the hallway, pausing only to cock the gun.
Two minutes later Howe is seen coming back into the room. She goes off-screen for several minutes before grabbing several pieces of clothing from a hook on the wall, shoving them into a large black bag and rolls the bags outside.
Shooting victim Kenn Perrier testified Friday Howe had installed her own high-tech surveillance system inside her room because she believed the staff at the facility were stealing her belongings.
Howe's lawyer, James Bahen, showed the court notes written by his client before her eviction that said she was fragile and overwhelmed.
Bahen says Howe's mental state at the time of the incident is the key to understanding what happened.
Out of character
Two days after the shooting, a family friend of Howe told CTV News the incident is completely out of character.
"She's not the sort of person to pick up a gun and use it on another human being. It's just not in her nature," said David Croal.
Croal said Howe told him two weeks before the incident she was having problems with the people who ran the care home. He suggested she go to the Mounties but says she assured him she'd speak to her case worker.
"People she was working with didn't take notice," said Croal. "All of these little pieces came together…and unfortunately, it was a tragic result."
Ken Howe, Linda's father, told CTV News last year things went downhill for his daughter when she was badly injured in a car accident – and left with serious brain injuries.
"It scrambled her bad," he said.
The charges against Howe are still unproven in court.
With files from CTV British Columbia's Stephen Smart
