California gunman was kicked out of veterans program before deadly hostage situation

Christal Hayes | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Gunman takes hostages at Calif. veterans home A gunman took at least three people hostage at a large veterans home in California on Friday and police locked down the sprawling grounds, Napa County Fire Capt. Chase Beckman said. (March 9)

The gunman behind an all-day hostage situation Friday that left three women dead at the nation's largest veterans home in northern California was a former patient who served in the Army, officials said.

The gunman, identified as Albert Wong, 36, was being treated at The Pathway Home, a non-profit at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville that aims to help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder readjust to civilian life after they return from overseas.

He'd been asked to leave the program for unknown reasons days before the shooting, state Sen. Bill Dodd told the San Francisco Chronicle.

The incident unfolded Friday morning when Wong slipped into the building during a going-away party, CNN reported, adding workers were eating cake and toasting when he started his attack.

He let several workers go but kept a group of others hostage and barricaded them inside a building on the massive campus in Napa Valley region, which treats 1,000 elderly and disabled vets, according to the Associated Press.

For hours, authorities tried to reach Wong and end the standoff. Officials entered the room Friday evening and found Wong, two executives and a psychologist dead. It's unclear when they were killed.

The Chronicle reported authorities found Wong wearing "a stash of bullets around his neck."

It's still "far too early to say if they were chosen at random" as investigators are still piecing together a motive, California Highway Patrol Assistant Chief Chris Childs said during a news conference.

The victims were identified as Christine Loeber, 48, executive director at The Pathway Home; Jennifer Golick, 42, a clinical director at the facility; and Jennifer Gonzales, 29, a clinical psychologist with the San Francisco Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System.

President Trump recognized those killed Saturday morning.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic situation in Yountville and mourn the loss of three incredible women who cared for our Veterans. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 10, 2018

Gov. Jerry Brown ordered flags flown at half-staff at the capitol in memory of the women.

“These brave women were accomplished professionals who dedicated their careers to serving our nation’s veterans, working closely with those in the greatest need of attention after deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan,” The Pathway Home said in a statement.

Golick’s father-in-law, Bob Golick, told the AP that she had recently expelled Wong from the program.

She called her husband, Mark, during the incident to tell him she'd been taken hostage.

He didn't hear from her again.

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More: Gunman, three hostages found dead after standoff at California veterans home