MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — Two people are recovering after a shooting at a recovery center in Mount Vernon sent them to the hospital.
Just before 9 a.m., the Mount Vernon Police Department was dispatched to a report of gunshots at New Earth Recovery, a non-profit Christian organization operating a residential recovery program in Skagit Valley, Washington.
According to their website, New Earth Recovery ‘loves, strengthens, and accompanies people in recovery from substance addiction through faith-based healing community.’
When officers arrived, they found two victims inside the residence with gunshot wounds, a 50-year-old man and a 53-year-old man. Both were taken to Skagit Valley Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. A third man reported that the suspect who shot the two victims had also pointed the gun at him.
Mount Vernon police took one suspect outside of the residence into custody without incident and collected a gun as evidence. Police say the suspect, a 49-year-old man, was known to all victims. He will be booked into Skagit County Jail on two counts of first-degree attempted murder, and one count of first-degree assault.
New Earth Recovery shared a statement to their social media, saying, “Wanted to let our friends and supporters know that a serious incident occurred at one of our houses this morning. Two of our residents were hospitalized after a shooting, and are in stable condition in a local hospital. The suspect is in custody and the situation is stable. Please pray for all involved, as we process the incident with those who were nearby. And pray that the good work of recovery continues to thrive in our valley.”
On Monday evening, they added an update, “Thank you all for your support and love. Tonight our two residents are out of surgery and in good care at the hospital. So grateful for our New Earth Recovery staff and residents, and how they care for each other.”