On a tragic afternoon in Alger, Washington, Chester Rose, a 58-year-old White male, was killed at his home on September 2, 2008. Rose, a local construction manager known for his meticulous workmanship, became the first victim in a violent rampage that would ultimately claim six lives. The perpetrator was 28-year-old Isaac Zamora, a neighbor of Rose's mother.
The deadly chain of events began after Zamora's own mother called the police to report him for trespassing.
Before law enforcement arrived, Zamora broke into a nearby home and stole a rifle and a handgun. Skagit County Sheriff's Deputy Anne Jackson was the first to respond to the call. Zamora ambushed her, shooting and killing her. He then proceeded to kill Chester Rose. It was later revealed that Deputy Jackson had been intending to deliver a witness statement form to Rose regarding his report of Zamora trespassing.
Following the murders of Deputy Jackson and Chester Rose, Zamora's violence continued. He killed four other people in the Alger area and on Interstate 5: David Radcliffe, Greg Gillum, Julie Binschus, and Leroy Lange. He also wounded several others during his spree. The rampage sparked a high-speed chase down Interstate 5 as police pursued him. The chase ended when Zamora drove to the Skagit County Sheriff's Office and surrendered.
Isaac Zamora was arrested and ultimately pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including aggravated murder. He also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for the murders of Chester Rose and Deputy Anne Jackson. When questioned about his motive, Zamora claimed that "God told him what to do and to kill evil". He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and was initially sent to a state mental hospital.
