Resident Kills a Medical Chief, Himself in Seattle

A resident physician who had recently been fired walked into the office of a high-ranking doctor, shot him to death and then killed himself Wednesday afternoon at the University of Washington, campus police said.

Staff members outside the office’s closed door heard raised voices, then at least one gunshot, then a few minutes later another shot.

University police found both men dead and a handgun nearby.

“It’s a tragedy. We have two highly educated men gone,” campus police Capt. Randy Stegmeyer said.

The victims were identified as Dr. Rodger C. Haggitt, 57, director of the University of Washington Medical Center pathology division, and Dr. Jian Chen, a resident physician from Taiwan who was in his 30s.

Chen apparently had an appointment when he entered Haggitt’s private office in the Health Sciences Building, said Stegmeyer.

He said Chen had recently been told that his contract as a resident would not be renewed. Such a termination for a resident, a doctor nearing the end of his training, would harm his prospects for future employment.

Police said they believe Chen had been at the university for about a year.

Chen apparently shot Haggitt, then himself, police said.

Seattle police homicide detectives were called to help with the investigation.

University spokesman Walter Neary said the shooting occurred away from the areas where patients are treated. The giant health science complex of interlocking buildings includes the medical center as well as doctors’ offices, classrooms and research laboratories.

Haggitt, a doctor of anatomic pathology, joined the university in 1984 as director of the division of hospital pathology. He was married with three adult children.