In the quiet early morning hours of September 27, 2025, a beloved member of the Medical Lake, Washington community, 57-year-old Colleen Hendrickson Bass, was tragically killed. A White/Caucasian female, she was on duty as a security officer at Eastern State Hospital, patrolling the psychiatric hospital's parking lot when her life was cut short in a violent encounter. The events of that night began to unfold shortly after midnight with a series of chaotic incidents that would ultimately lead to the senseless loss of life.
The night's turmoil began with a brush fire reported near Medical Lake High School. First responders encountered a man at the scene making bizarre claims about aliens. This same individual, later identified as 24-year-old Sethanial Bunch, then forced his way into a nearby home and fired multiple shots. Fortunately, the residents managed to hide and were unharmed. Bunch then proceeded to Eastern State Hospital, where he encountered Hendrickson Bass in the parking lot. It was there that he fatally shot the unarmed security guard multiple times. After the shooting, Bunch reportedly used her radio to broadcast alarming statements.
Spokane County Sheriff's deputies responded to the escalating situation at the hospital and exchanged gunfire with Bunch. He was later found deceased near his vehicle, having died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators found a rifle and a handgun near his body, and tactical gear and additional weapons inside his car. While a motive remains unclear, Bunch's earlier statements about aliens and an approaching army suggest a disturbed state of mind. Due to confidentiality rules, it could not be disclosed whether Bunch was a current or former patient of the hospital.
Colleen Hendrickson Bass was remembered by her family and friends as a kind and social person who always had a smile on her face. A graduate of Central Valley High School, she had lived in the Spokane area for most of her life and was a divorced mother of two grown children. Beyond her work, she was an active and "tenacious" member of the Lilac City Roller Derby, known by her derby name, “BomBASStic.” Her teammates recalled her as a reliable and kind-hearted individual, always willing to lend a hand. Her family and the roller derby community are left to mourn the sudden and tragic loss of a woman described as a bright light and a wonderfully kind person.
