On a June afternoon in 2014, the campus of Seattle Pacific University was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 19-year-old Paul Lee. A promising Korean-American student with a bright future, Lee was fatally shot on June 5, 2014, outside of Otto Miller Hall. He was a freshman who had graduated from Westview High School in Beaverton, Oregon, and was remembered by friends and family for his infectious smile, kindness, and love of dancing.
The gunman, identified as Aaron
Ybarra, entered the university campus with the intention of committing a mass shooting. After shooting Lee, Ybarra proceeded into Otto Miller Hall, where he shot and wounded two other students. The attack was cut short by the heroic actions of a student building monitor, Jon Meis, who pepper-sprayed and tackled Ybarra as he was reloading his shotgun. Meis, with the help of other students, was able to subdue the gunman until police arrived and took him into custody.
In the aftermath of the tragic shooting, Paul Lee was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. Friends and family remembered him as a deeply faithful person with a passion for helping others, often volunteering at a homeless shelter. He was an undeclared major but had shown an interest in psychology and theology. In his memory, his family established the Paul Lee Foundation to support research for those suffering from mental illness.
The suspect, Aaron Ybarra, was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder for the death of Paul Lee, as well as attempted murder and assault for the other victims. During his trial, Ybarra's defense argued that he was not guilty by reason of insanity. However, prosecutors presented evidence of his long-standing plan to commit a school shooting. In November 2016, a jury convicted Ybarra on all counts, and in February 2017, he was sentenced to 112 years in prison.
