The man who shot up the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle in July 2006 was found guilty today of murder, which carries with it an automatic life sentence. The jury also found Naveed Haq, 34 of Pasco, Wash., guilty of five counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one count of malicious harassment, the state’s hate-crime law.
Following nearly two months of testimony, in this second trial, the jury agreed with the prosecution that Haq knew full well what he was doing. Haq wounded six women, killing one, at the federation building 2 1/2 years ago.
“We are grateful that justice for this heinous hate crime has finally been served,” Richard Fruchter, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation, said in a statement issued after the verdicts were announced. “Our hearts go out to the survivors of this shooting and their families, who bravely endured not only the shooting but two trials.”
Haq suffers from a bipolar disorder and his defense claimed he could not understand his actions.
