How safe is Tri-Cities? Shooting at Richland, WA Fred Meyer sends unsettling message

This shooting was different.

Justin Krumbah was shopping Monday morning when he was suddenly shot and killed in Aisle 14 at the Richland Fred Meyer store.

The gunman — who since has been taken into custody — also shot Mark A. Hill, a store employee who remains in critical condition.

And now the Tri-Cities doesn’t feel quite as safe as it once did.

The bloodshed happened in daylight at a place people go to routinely. It was senseless and seemingly random, and the victims could have been anybody who happened to be standing in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

And that’s why this shooting is so unsettling. It’s too easy to say, “That could have been me.”

Over the past few years, shocking violent crimes committed by people with serious mental health issues have upset the peaceful image we like to have of the Tri-Cities.

In 2018, a shooting took place at the Winco in Richland. Fortunately, that victim survived. The man responsible for the crime was acquitted by reason of insanity and committed to a state hospital.

Like the Winco shooting, what happened this week at Fred Meyer occurred in public — a tragedy that unfolded while people were buying their groceries.

And according to Interim Police Chief Brigit Clary, there appears to be no known connection between the victims and the gunman.

So as a community, how do we come back from this?

Do we consider the Fred Meyer shooting a rare occurrence and move on? Or do we look for ways to make our community safer?

Benton County saw nine confirmed homicides in 2021, which sets a new, grim record. The previous high was seven in 2018, according to Benton County Coroner Bill Leach. One of the reasons last year’s count is so high is that it includes the death of Ryan Kaufman, whose rampage also resulted in the death of a neighbor and his parents.

Across the river, Franklin County had six homicides in 2021, the same number the year before and one fewer than 2019, said Coroner Curtis McGary.

Half of these were classified as vehicular homicides and two were stabbings, which included the death of Richard “Dick” Lenhart, a Pasco bus driver, who was killed Sept. 24 while picking up a load of children after school. Joshua D. Davis, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder in this case, and he was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation by doctors from Eastern State Hospital.

And there are reports that the Fred Meyer shooter also had mental health issues. Aaron Christopher Kelly, age 39, was “very paranoid” and known to carry a pistol, according to his former housemate.

Kelly was “spiraling mentally” in the weeks and months ahead of Monday’s shooting, and last week, Kelly was suspected of shoplifting at the Kennewick Fred Meyer store, according to court documents.

Public killings often follow a terrible pattern. They typically start with someone who is troubled and needs professional help, but the warning signs go unnoticed or unheeded. Or perhaps, help is sought but the services just aren’t there.

At some point that person snaps unexpectedly, leaving death and grief in the wake.

And then — finally — they get the psychological evaluation and help they’ve needed all along.

It’s a deadly cycle and we need to find a way to end it.

The Tri-Cities is the only major metropolitan area in Eastern Washington without a detox center, and there are only rooms for 10 people to get psychiatric inpatient treatment for the 300,000 people in Franklin and neighboring Benton counties.

And there are no rooms for juvenile patients.

Currently, people who need mental health services or help overcoming drug addiction often end up in jail or in Tri-City emergency rooms because our community has so few options for them. Or they suffer without help until they lash out or break down.

Fortunately, Benton and Franklin county commissioners last year approved tacking on an extra penny to every $10 in sales in order to put money toward a substance abuse recovery center and mental health facility in the Tri-Cities.

It’s a great start, but right now we need more than just a step in the right direction.

Tri-City leaders have been working on this issue for months, but after Monday’s shooting the public must be assured that progress is being made.

County officials should provide an update on where their efforts stand on expanding mental health services.

Our community needs to surround the families and friends of Krumbah and Hill with comfort and support. And then we need to work harder to ensure the Tri-Cities has the resources to help those at risk of hurting themselves and others.

This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 10:34 AM.