Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to civilian life

LAKE STEVENS — On the battlefields of Iraq, John LaBossiere’s gun became his security blanket, his father believes.

At 26, he’d already survived the 2003 invasion, and two more deployments to war zones in the Middle East.

He didn’t survive his re-entry to daily living, his father, Phil LaBossiere, of Lake Stevens, said Wednesday.

On Sunday night the Army reservist and former Marine was fatally shot during a confrontation with a Lake Stevens police officer, Phil LaBossiere said.

“We all loved him, and he did not understand that,” the father said. “He didn’t understand that anymore. Unfortunately, when life ends like that it’s too late to fix anything.”

Investigators found two handguns at the scene. John LaBossiere reportedly was carrying one weapon and a second firearm was found near him.

The shooting is being investigated by the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team. The special group of homicide detectives attempt to independently investigate every time police use deadly force in the county.

Lake Stevens police responded to a 911 call that an armed man was reportedly forcing his way into a home.

Phil LaBossiere said his son’s wife was staying at the home. The couple, who recently separated, have three children, all under 5.

Messages on a MySpace account reflect the love the family shared, despite the distance that kept the young father from his family.

“You’re our HERO unlike the rest… When it comes to DADs your the BEST!” read one message, apparently posted on Father’s Day by his wife.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner said Wednesday that an autopsy had been completed but the results weren’t released pending scientific identification.

The officer, 23, is on paid administrative leave, in accordance with department policy. His name has not been released.

John LaBossiere graduated from Lake Stevens High School. He grew up loving the outdoors. He hiked, camped and fished with his father and brother.

The day after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, John LaBossiere told his father he wanted to follow both of his grandfathers’ footsteps and enlist in the military. During a fishing trip to Deception Pass, the young man told his father he planned to become a Marine.

“‘I guess if I need to I’ll join the service,’” LaBossiere’s father remembers his son saying. A few months later he left for boot camp in San Diego, Calif. From there, it was on to North Carolina for specialty training as a combat engineer. Then he was deployed to Iraq.

Friends and family were praying for him nonstop, Phil LaBossiere said.

“We were all proud of him and scared to death at the same time,” he said.

He left the Marines in 2006 and moved home to the Everett area. Months later he signed up with the Army National Guard.

It wasn’t long before John LaBossiere again was sent overseas, his father said.

“At no time was he ever saying he didn’t want to go,” Phil LaBossiere said. “His desire to serve his country was there.”

When he came back home from his third Iraq deployment, John LaBossiere’s life apparently unraveled. There were relationship problems, and he had trouble supporting his young family.

“There was a lot of stress, a lot of stress,” his father said.

His father said he’s now haunted by the possibility that war changed his son. He wishes somebody in the military had found a way to help.

As the police investigation continues into his son’s death, the father said he doesn’t harbor resentment.

“We feel no ill feelings towards the police officer,” he said.

John LaBossiere leaves behind his wife and three children, his parents and brother, Tim, who also is a former Marine.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hope Foursquare Church, 5002 Bickford Avenue, Snohomish.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Two snowboarders head up the mountain in a lift chair on the opening day of ski season at Stevens Pass Ski Area on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, near Skykomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ski season delayed at Stevens Pass due to minimal snow

Resort originally planned to open Dec. 1. But staff are hopeful this week’s snow will allow guests to hit the slopes soon.

Siblings Qingyun, left, and Ruoyun Li, 12 and 13, respectively, are together on campus at Everett Community College on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Everett, Washington. The two are taking a full course load at the community college this semester. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Siblings, age 12 and 13, are youngest students at EvCC campus

Qingyun Li was 11 when he scored a perfect 36 on the ACT test. His sister, Ruoyun, was one point away.

Edmond’s newly elected mayor Mike Rosen on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mayor-elect Rosen wants to ‘make Edmonds politics boring again’

Mike Rosen handily defeated incumbent Mayor Mike Nelson. He talked with The Herald about how he wants to gather the “full input” of residents.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Traffic cameras, and tickets, come to Edmonds; Mukilteo could be next

New school zone cameras in Edmonds will begin operating in January. Mukilteo is considering enforcement cameras as well.

A person walks their dog along a flooded Old Snohomish Monroe Road on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Flood-resistant floors and sandbags are price of riverside life in Sultan

Flooding is a threat every year for 75,000 locals — and the long-term forecast suggests it’ll only get worse in the coming decades.

Everett Community College is introducing a new Trojan design as the college's symbol of student spirit and athletics. The design incorporates the Feather Star, EvCC's official logo, in the Trojan's cape.  (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Amid staffing crisis, student nurses run into shortages in education too

Everett Community College’s nursing program has 79 slots. Hundreds apply each year — and that’s just the first hurdle.

A family walks through the Wintertide lights Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022, at Legion Park in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Wintertide Lights returns for the month of December in Everett

The free family event is open nightly at Evergreen Arboretum and Gardens in Legion Park.

The Safeway store at 4128 Rucker Ave., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Mike Henneke / The Herald)
Police: Everett Safeway ex-worker accused of trying to ram customers

The man, 40, was showing symptoms of psychosis, police wrote. Officers found him circling another parking lot off Mukilteo Boulevard.

Ferries pass during a crossing from the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal and the Clinton Terminal on Monday, April 26, 2021 in Mukilteo, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Mukilteo-Clinton ferry gets grant for renovations focused on walk-ons

The $4.8 million grant from the feds will be split between six aging Washington ferries, to improve the vessels’ interiors.

An order is delivered to one of the first cars at Chick-Fil-A's store in Marysville on its opening day Thursday on May 21, 2020. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Chicken with a side of traffic: Everett Mall Chick-fil-A opens Dec. 7

The new Everett Mall Way restaurant is the popular chain’s fifth Snohomish County location. Openings often cause traffic backups.

A suspected gas explosion on Wednesday destroyed a house in the 19700 block of 25TH DR SE in Bothell, Washington. (Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue)
Gas explosion destroys freshly sold Bothell house; no injuries

The vacant home, purchased days earlier, blew up Wednesday on 25th Drive SE, throwing a garage door across the street.

Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the 196th ST SW Improvement Project near the 196th and 44th Ave West intersection in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Jarred by anti-Semitic rants, Lynnwood council approves tax increase

Three people spewed hate speech via Zoom at a council meeting this week. Then, the council moved on to regular business.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.