5/16/2006 Harrisonburg, VA Man Kills 2 Co-Workers- Survivors Lawsuit at $10.35 million

Brewer Hoover Jr., 65, shot and killed Gary Gibson, 54 and Bonnie Crump, 54. It was about 8 a.m, when Hoover took a .38-caliber revolver and a .40-caliber semi-automatic weapon to the American HomePatient retail store where they worked, barricaded himself in the store and started shooting. Hoover reported to work then shot Gibson from behind as he was sitting at his desk. Crump arrived shortly afterward and Hoover shot her several times as co-workers tried to save her. Allegedly, Brewer held a false belief that Crump and Gibson, who were married to other people, were having an extramarital affair with each other. Hoover, the suits claim, confronted Crump in March, shouting and shaking his first at her, and continued his erratic behavior. Crump avoided contact with Hoover, was afraid to go to the restroom alone and kept a cane by her desk to defend herself against him, the suits state. During the short standoff with the negotiation team, he said was he was upset and he was afraid he was going to be fired. Each family is suing the Hoover’s estate and the company for a combined amount in excess of 20 million. Before the shooting, the lawsuits say, employees at the business told company officials that Hoover was acting in an "erratic and threatening manner" toward Crump, a co-worker he was infatuated with. Each filing seeks $10 million compensation for pain and suffering and $350,000 as punishment for alleged failure to provide a safe work environment.