Isaac Zamora

Isaac Zamora was born in 1980 in the United States and lived for much of his life in Skagit County, Washington. Public records and court testimony indicate that Zamora experienced significant personal instability for many years prior to the 2008 shootings. According to statements from his family, his mental health deteriorated following a house fire that destroyed the family home approximately a decade before the crime spree. From that period onward, Zamora reportedly struggled with untreated mental illness and substance abuse.

In the years leading up to the shootings, Zamora lived intermittently in wooded areas near Alger, Washington, and worked sporadically as a house painter. He became increasingly isolated and financially unstable. After sustaining an injury while painting, Zamora developed an addiction to prescription painkillers, which further exacerbated his mental health issues.

Zamora had a documented criminal history prior to the shootings. In early 2008, he served a six‑month jail sentence in Skagit County for felony drug possession and was released on August 6, 2008. As part of his release conditions, Zamora was required to undergo a mental health evaluation. However, he could not afford the assessment, and arrangements to secure one were still ongoing at the time of the shootings. His corrections officer was unaware that Zamora possessed firearms, which would have violated the terms of his supervision.

In the weeks before September 2, 2008, Zamora’s behavior reportedly became increasingly erratic. His mother, Dennise Zamora, stated that she repeatedly sought help for her son and had contacted authorities in the past regarding his mental health. Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputy Anne Jackson had previously responded to calls involving the Zamora family and had advised Dennise to contact her directly if further assistance was needed.

On September 2, 2008, Isaac Zamora carried out a deadly shooting rampage across Skagit County, Washington, that left six people dead and two others wounded.

The violence began in Alger, Washington, when Zamora entered a neighbor’s home and stole a rifle and a shotgun. Alarmed by her son’s behavior, Dennise Zamora called police at approximately 2:15 p.m. Skagit County Sheriff’s Deputy Anne Jackson responded to the call and arrived at the Zamora family property shortly afterward. Upon her arrival, Isaac Zamora shot and killed Deputy Jackson.

After killing the deputy, Zamora left the property and continued shooting in the Alger area. He killed multiple individuals and wounded others at or near the initial scene. Among the victims killed in Alger were Chester Malcolm Rose, Julie Ann Binschus, David Thomas Radcliffe, Gregory Neil Gillum, and Deputy Anne Jackson.

Zamora then fled the area in a vehicle and led law enforcement on a high‑speed chase southbound along Interstate 5, reaching speeds of nearly 90 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Zamora fired his weapon at pursuing officers, striking Washington State Trooper Troy Giddings, who survived and later drove himself to a hospital for treatment.

The violence continued as Zamora shot a motorcyclist at a Shell gas station, wounding him, and fatally shot Leroy B. Lange, 64, who was driving his SUV southbound on Interstate 5. By approximately 4:30 p.m., Zamora drove into the parking lot of the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office in Mount Vernon, Washington, where he surrendered without further resistance. He was arrested and booked into the Mount Vernon Jail.

In 2009, Isaac Zamora pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated murder and entered pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity to two additional aggravated murder charges. The court ultimately sentenced him to four consecutive life sentences. Due to findings related to his mental health, Zamora was committed to Western State Hospital rather than immediately placed in a standard correctional facility.

In 2012, Zamora was transferred to the Monroe Correctional Complex after authorities determined that his presence posed a risk to hospital staff and other patients. He later sought a new trial, but in November 2019, Judge Dave Needy denied the request.

In response to the shootings, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire ordered an independent review of how Zamora’s prior criminal and mental health cases had been handled. In 2013, the state of Washington agreed to pay $9 million to settle lawsuits filed by victims’ families, who argued that systemic failures contributed to the tragedy.

As of the most recent public records, Isaac Zamora remains incarcerated in Washington State, serving multiple life sentences for one of the deadliest mass shootings in the state’s history.