The US state of California has agreed to pay $51 million in damages in a lawsuit over the 2018 murder of three female staff members by a former soldier in a veterans’ home.
Lindsey Sin, spokesperson for the state Department of Veterans Affairs, confirmed to the Napa Valley Register that compensation will be paid to the families of the 3 women killed at the veterans’ home.
Sin emphasized that a settlement was reached with the families in the case and said, “Our hearts are with the victims and their families.”
Sin said that they know that the pain of the loss of the three women will never fully go away, adding that they hope that this tragedy can now be left behind.
Settlement payments will be made after the California state budget, which takes effect July 1, is approved by the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom.
The 3 officers who lost their lives in the attack were identified as Christine Loeber, Jennifer Golick and Jennifer Gonzales.
Albert Wong, who was being treated at the California Veterans Home, where veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan receive psychological treatment, was removed from the facility because he did not like the treatment plan.
Following this decision, Wong first killed 3 employees at the facility, which he held hostage for 8 hours, and then committed suicide.
