Man suspected of killing Bellingham elementary principal remains in Harborview ICU
READ MORE
Lynn Heimsoth murder
Sunnyland Elementary School Principal Lynn Heimsoth, her therapy dog Sukha and the family cat were shot to death Dec. 26, 2019, at her home west of Bellingham. Kevin Heimsoth, her husband who reportedly attempted to kill himself after her death, has been charged with murder and animal cruelty.
Expand All
The Bellingham man suspected of fatally shooting his wife, who was a Bellingham elementary school principal, and their two pets Thursday morning, remains in the Intensive Care Unit Monday, Dec. 30, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Kevin Heimsoth, 56, was identified as the suspected shooter by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. He was in critical condition with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday, Dec. 27, at Harborview and is under guard by law enforcement.
Harborview spokesperson Susan Gregg told The Bellingham Herald on Monday morning that she did not have an update on Hemisoth’s condition but that he was still in the ICU.
Bellingham Sunnyland Elementary School Principal Lynn Heimsoth died at the scene of Thursday’s shooting. She was 58.
Lynn Heimsoth’s cause of death was declared a handgun gunshot wound to the head and was officially ruled a homicide by the Whatcom County Medical Examiner. Her time of death was declared around 10:30 a.m. Dec. 26, but initial law enforcement investigation suggests shots may have been heard around 2:45 a.m. that morning, said Whatcom County Medical Examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel.
A candlelight vigil was held in Lynn Heimsoth’s honor at Sunnyland Elementary on Friday evening. More than 200 people attended the event.
“She came to the school and taught them how to be just better in every way and lifted and supported the students. Specifically with Sukha, it gave so many students the opportunity to connect in a way that verbally maybe they can’t,” said Kami Westhoff, a member of the Sunnyland Elementary PTA and organizer of the event. “She was this incredibly strong woman for all of our students to see being strong and respected, but available emotionally.”
Lynn Heimsoth was the principal at Sunnyland Elementary since July 2017. She previously served as the principal at Shoultes Elementary in Marysville for four years. She also worked for Bremerton, North Kitsap and South Kitsap school districts as an elementary teacher and instructional leader, the Thursday statement from Baker, the district superintendent, said.
In the two years she was principal at Sunnyland Elementary School, Lynn Heimsoth and her therapy dog, Sukha, showed the students, parents and community unconditional love and support.
“We are heartbroken by this news. Her death is a profound loss to our Sunnyland community, our school district and to our extended community,” Superintendent Greg Baker said Thursday in a statement announcing Heimsoth’s death. “Lynn was a passionate, equity-driven instructional leader. She loved kids to the core and always kept students’ needs at the center of her work.”
Members of the school district’s counseling and support team will be available for students at Sunnyland Elementary on Jan. 6 when the students return from winter break, Baker’s statement said.
The district also provided resources for families to speak with their children about the tragedy, which help deal with death and grief.
Kevin Heimsoth may have admitted to killing his family on a Twitter account that appears to be associated with him in replies to the National Rifle Association, President Donald Trump and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo said he could not comment Friday on the Twitter account.
RESOURCES
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
This story was originally published December 30, 2019 at 10:33 AM with the headline "Man suspected of killing Bellingham elementary principal remains in Harborview ICU."
.jpeg)
