Eljahn Balon, a 27-year-old male registered nurse, was killed on the morning of June 9, 2020, in a workplace parking lot in Lakewood, Washington. A compassionate and dedicated caregiver known for his ever-present smile, Eljahn worked at St. Clare Hospital, where the tragic events unfolded. He was well-regarded by his colleagues for his reliability and had a reputation for having saved many lives throughout his career.
The incident occurred when Daniel Sawyers, the 32-year-old estranged husband of Eljahn's girlfriend, arrived at the hospital and requested to speak with both his estranged wife and Eljahn, who also worked there. The three of them went out to the hospital parking lot to talk. Shortly after they met, Sawyers opened fire on Eljahn, shooting him multiple times.
After shooting Eljahn, Daniel Sawyers then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life at the scene. Eljahn Balon was rushed to a local trauma center, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Sawyers' estranged wife was not physically harmed during the incident. The hospital was placed on a brief lockdown until law enforcement determined it was an isolated event with no further danger to the public.
Investigators classified the shooting as a domestic violence incident. At the time, Sawyers and his wife were going through a divorce, though the official paperwork had not been filed. As the perpetrator died by suicide at the scene of the crime, there were no arrests made in connection with Eljahn Balon's death, and no other suspects were sought.
