GRANITE FALLS — A man suspected of a shooting rampage that spanned three east Snohomish County cities reportedly told police he wanted to die because of his failing health and an impending foreclosure on his home.
“I wish I were dead. Your guys aren’t very good shots,” Hans Hansen allegedly told detectives at the hospital.
A police affidavit filed Monday in Everett District Court gives insight into the motive behind the Oct. 15 shooting spree.
Detectives say Hansen confessed to opening fire on the Granite Falls and Lake Stevens Police Departments and later exchanging gunfire with Marysville police officers in hopes that police would kill him, according to the affidavit.
Marysville police Sgt. Jim Maple was struck in the leg by shrapnel during the melee. He has since been released from the hospital.
Hansen was shot in the head, with the bullet not penetrating his skull. The scalp wound bled heavily. Hansen was convinced he was dying so he surrendered to police, detectives wrote.
Hansen, 43, made a brief court appearance Monday. He had a swollen black eye and red marks on his face and head. For now, he is being held without bail. Another hearing is expected next week.
Deputy prosecutor Ed Stemler argued that Hansen could be held without bail under a provision of state law that allows a judge to find “by clear and convincing evidence, that a person shows a propensity for violence that creates a substantial likelihood of danger to the community” and that no pre-trial conditions can assure public safety.
Among other factors Stemler cited in court Monday were Hansen’s claims that he had access to large amounts of ammunition. The suspect told police he had up to 20,000 rounds of ammunition stored at home.
Prosecutors have three days to file charges. Hansen was arrested for investigation of two counts of first-degree assault with a weapon and three counts of drive-by-shooting. Stemler said he will need to review police reports before deciding what charges will be filed.
Hansen had few words to say in court Monday. He did indicate that he is trying to hire a private attorney to represent him.
Hansen allegedly explained to detectives that his cabinet business had failed and he’d been evicted from the industrial park in the 17100 block of Mountain Loop Highway in Granite Falls. He said he has a vascular disease and one of his legs must be amputated soon. Hansen also said he expected to lose his house in January because he hasn’t been able to pay the mortgage.
He said Wednesday night’s events also were triggered by an argument with his wife. She had sent him an upsetting text message earlier in the day. Hansen told detectives he started drinking.
Hansen thought about firing on police when they came to evict him. “However, he decided to gather several guns that he owned and go to several locations where police might be so he could fire at cars and buildings and engage the police in a gunfight and be killed,” Snohomish County sheriff’s detective Tedd Betts wrote.
Hansen allegedly loaded up his pickup truck with two AK-47 rifles, one AR-15 rifle, two .22-caliber rifles, one .300-caliber short magnum rifle, a shotgun and a .40-caliber handgun, according to court papers. He admitted to firing multiple rounds into a building at the industrial park in Granite Falls.
He reloaded and drove to the Granite Falls Police Department. There he shot up an unoccupied patrol car. He targeted empty patrol cars at the Lake Stevens Police Department. Bullets hit the station, too.
He stopped at Marysville Walmart on Highway 9 to reload. He said he was headed to the Marysville Police Department when he spotted a patrol car. Hansen said he turned into a residential area and police followed him.
Hansen decided to fire on police, using his AK-47 and AR-15. One of the rifles was loaded with steel-core ammunition, which he told detectives he knew could penetrate vehicles, brick walls and telephone poles, Betts wrote.
Police say Hansen shot at a total of six police vehicles.
Hansen reportedly told detectives that he had planned to shoot up the Marysville Police Department and then move on to the Navy Support Complex in Marysville. He figured that military personnel would kill him if police were not successful.
The Granite Falls father is facing multiple counts of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley
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