Accused SPU shooter kept journal, wanted to ‘feel the hate’

The man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting rampage at Seattle Pacific University last week plotted the attack in a journal and considered other campuses as his target, according to prosecutors.

Aaron Ybarra, 26, of Mountlake Terrace, was charged Tuesday with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of second-degree assault with firearms enhancements.

If convicted as charged, Ybarra would face 69 to 86 years behind bars, although the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said it plans to seek an exceptional sentence of life in prison.

According to court documents released Tuesday, Ybarra kept a journal in the weeks leading up to the shooting and expressed his admiration for gunmen who carried out similar acts at Columbine High School and Virginia Tech.

“His final entry was on the morning of the shooting, where he wrote about his excitement that he could finally carry out his plan,” said King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg. “He wrote, ‘I just want people to die, and I’m gonna die with them!'”

Satterberg said Ybarra visited the school prior to the shooting and was shown around by school counselors and students who he described in his journal as being “helpful” and “friendly.”

Ybarra wrote that he considered carrying out the shooting at other campuses, such as Central Washington University and Washington State University, but determined they were too far away, Satterberg said.

Instead, at 3:23 p.m. Thursday, Ybarra walked onto the SPU campus armed with a hunting knife and a .12 caliber, double-barreled shotgun and 50 rounds of ammunition.

According to charging documents, Ybarra shot, at very close range to the back of the head, Paul Lee. Several pellets loaded into shotgun shells struck nearby Thomas Fowler, causing less serious injuries.

He then pointed the gun toward a female student, but the lower barrel malfunctioned and would not fire, documents read.

Once inside Otto Miller Hall, Ybarra encountered a student near the door wearing headphones, who appeared oblivious to the shooting that had just occurred. According to court documents, Ybarra pointed the gun at the student, but decided not to shoot.

Ybarra turned his attention to Sarah Williams, who was coming down a flight of stairs, and shot her from a few feet away, prosecutors alleged.

Ybarra was in the process of reloading when Jon Meis, a student security monitor, rushed out of his office and unleashed a stream of pepper spray into his eyes.

“Within seconds, Meis had disarmed the shooter, had hid the gun in his office, and then ran back to tackle the defendant, this time disarming him of the only other weapon he had brought with him: a large hunting knife,” Satterberg said. “Just as suddenly as this crime had erupted, it was over.”

According to court documents, Ybarra told police he brought the knife with him to cut his own throat after the shooting, and did not think he would leave Otto Miller Hall alive.

Ybarra told investigators that he was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Transient Psychosis. He said he was prescribed medications, but did not take them because he wanted to “feel the hate.”

Ybarra is currently being held without bail and is on suicide watch at the King County jail. His arraignment is set for June 23.

KIRO Radio reporter Brandi Kruse and the Associated Press contributed to this report.