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A mentally ill woman is accused of shooting David Long, 40, three times inside a grocery store on the Key Peninsula. (Photo courtesy Heidi Michaelson)

Grocery store victim was 'shy,' 'innocent'

BY Brandi Kruse  on August 15, 2012 @ 2:50 pm (Updated: 9:32 pm - 8/15/12 )

Saturday, Aug. 11 began as any other day for David Long.

Long, 40, walked to the grocery store across the street from his house, which was just a "stone's throw away," according to his sister. He picked up $27.54 worth of everyday items such as deodorant, aftershave, and a bottle of water.

He walked up to a checkout lane where cashier Claudia Jones was working. She often saw him at the store and said he would sometimes come in twice a day.

"I would help him with his purchases and always look forward to seeing him," said Jones, 55, a longtime resident of the Key Peninsula. "I always asked him how he was, and some days he would answer short answers and other days he would talk to me for a minute."

She described him as kind, gentle, and shy.

When Long was 11-years-old and living in California, he suffered brain damage due to complications after an accident.

His younger sister, Heidi, said he fell through a roof and broke his arm. He developed gangrene under his cast and later had an allergic reaction to anesthesia during surgery. He went into a coma and was left mentally disabled.

After spending time in Las Vegas, Long moved to Washington state and the Key Peninsula after his mother died. His family found him a home close to the Peninsula Market grocery store, which is also called Lake Kathryn Village, so he could have some independence.

"He walks there every day," said his sister, Heidi Michaelson, 35, of Gig Harbor. "People say, 'I've seen him walking, is that your brother?' I'm like, 'Yep, that's him.' Everyday he's either at the Chevron or the grocery store."

Last Saturday was no different. But on that day, as Long stood at the checkout counter, police say a mentally ill woman walked inside the store and opened fire.

Long was shot three times and remains in critical condition at Tacoma General Hospital.

Laura Sorenson, 20, has been charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count first-degree assault for allegedly shooting Long and two other men inside the store.

"Why that time? Why him?" said his sister. "I wouldn't want it to be anyone else either, but he's just so innocent."

Members of the community, who often saw Long walk to the grocery store, say his absence has been hard to deal with.

"He's just a very fine man. He's just a very gentle being and it was so catastrophic for our little community," Jones said. "I'm just glad he's alive. I'm so glad he's alive."

Although her brother is still unconscious, Michaelson said he will find it hard to believe that anyone missed him.

"He doesn't think that people remember him, but I think they do," she said. "I don't think he realizes what an impact he makes on people. He's just not going to believe it."

With help from the grocery store and the community, Long's family has set up a fund in his name. Those wishing to donate to help with medical expenses can do so at any Key Bank location under the "David E. Long Donation Account."

Brandi Kruse, KIRO Radio Reporter
Brandi Kruse is a reporter for KIRO Radio who is as spontaneous and adventurous in her free time as she is on the job. Brandi arrived at KIRO Radio in March 2011 and has already collected three regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting.
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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    'shy,' 'innocent'?
    August 15, 2012 4:39 pm
    rope around her neck will fix her problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • duh wrote...
    eh..CH
    August 15, 2012 8:30 pm
    try reading the story BEFORE you comment
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • diverphil wrote...
    @duh
    August 16, 2012 4:14 pm
    That's just CH.. He never likes to come with all the facts. He makes a fool out of himself daily.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • LogicNReasonPlusScience wrote...
    Liberal Democrat drug addict? Check... Affect on drug legalization debate... zero.
    August 15, 2012 8:59 pm
    A drug addled liberal attacks innocent people? Nooo... unthinkable. Nidal Malik Hasan, James Holmes, Manson, fill in the blank socialist, etc. Every single one not surprisingly aligned with Democrat politics (yes, national socialists too). It's in the liberal psychosis to want to murder unborn babies, assist in suicide, body mutilate, injest feces, etc.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Wiping the tears from my eyes
    August 15, 2012 5:44 pm
    Too much heartache in this world. Senseless heartache.......
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mo Gaud wrote...
    I'm with you soo
    August 15, 2012 7:49 pm
    Some times it's hard to understand.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Irish Rover wrote...
    Sad
    August 16, 2012 8:35 am
    From the article, Mr. Long appears to be one of those kind souls who had many misfortunes in his life, and yet quietly continued-on. It is indeed sad that a person such as he should be taken from this life, sadder still that a disturbed person took his life. No doubt he will be welcomed in Heaven as one who has fought the fight and ran the course of this life. I'm confident that his life will be remembered as an example for each of us to continue to actively seek-out and assist the less fortunate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BROWNSPOINTER wrote...
    Shy Innocent
    August 16, 2012 9:08 am
    Did any of you read this story? How do you take a really tragic story like this and turn it into an anti-liberal rant with a touch of how corrupt this community is? You should be concerned with the recovery of this poor man and ALL the families involved and not your deluded brain-droppings.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • sambra27 wrote...
    wow
    August 16, 2012 9:25 am
    Only took 3 comments to add a political stamp to this story. Well done, people!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bobbiejo wrote...
    Really?
    August 16, 2012 11:40 am
    I am SHOCKED by the comments I am reading. This was a shooting by a crazy person and now we're insulting everyone who lives there? I totally agree with Brownspointer...quit turning everything into a political rant and show some sympathy for each other and quit turning everything into a political issue..it's disgusting and makes you sound like a jerk.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Daddy Dennis wrote...
    Bobbie
    August 16, 2012 3:14 pm
    Welcome to the internet. The separation causes a lack of humanity. I'm sure most folks who act a fool on this website would say none of this stuff if they were on your porch.

    This was a hate crime. The shooter targeted men because they were men. My prayers are with the families and the community.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • JMGilday wrote...
    throw a pebble in a pond and you wn't know where the ripples...
    August 16, 2012 12:34 pm
    CH: You are still an idiot

    AJ: Of course you know where to find the hookers

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mccain wrote...
    David
    August 16, 2012 2:51 pm
    That is too sad! Poor guy. God Bless David!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }