Healdsburg intruder ID'd as former employee (Shooting update)

Press Democrat ^ | 3 MAr | Staff

[barj]

Healdsburg intruder ID'd as former employee The ninja-masked man shot to death Monday morning in a Healdsburg home was seeking revenge for being fired several years ago from a Southern California casino, police said Friday.

David Edward Ferguson, 47, of San Diego had harbored ill will for six years and apparently stalked Lou Phillips for at least several months before going to his home, dressed in black and wearing a ninja mask.

Healdsburg police plan to release details of their investigation at a news conference this afternoon.

Ferguson was carrying bindings, tape, tarps, hot dogs and a blindfold when he was shot dead while struggling with Phillips’ wife in the hallway of their home. Phillips shot him three times.

Ferguson also had a folding knife with a 3-inch blade and a BB handgun that resembled a semiautomatic firearm.

“He was dressed to hide his identity and he seemed prepared to do harm to the Phillipses,” police said in a written statement.

Ferguson was chief financial officer for the tribal government operating the Viejas casino east of San Diego when Phillips was hired as chief executive in the late 1990s.

Phillips fired Ferguson after his job performance came into question, police said.

Ferguson was spotted in Healdsburg twice in the past six months.

Police said he brought flowers to the Ferguson home in September, apparently in an attempt to confirm their address. They filed a suspicious person report at the time.

In November, Healdsburg police stopped Ferguson for a traffic violation.

Ferguson’s parents told investigators that he left their home in San Diego on Feb. 18. He had $1,800 cash, a credit card and his parent’s car.

The vehicle, a white 1996 Mercury Marquis sedan, was located at First and Matheson streets in Healdsburg.

Phillips, a former executive with Harrah’s as well as the with the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, and his wife have lived in Healdsburg since 2003.

Police said Sandra Phillips, 64, was headed out to walk her dogs at about 7:30 a.m. Monday when she encountered Ferguson. He chased her into the house and they were struggling in the hallway when Lou Phillips, armed with a .357-caliber Magnum handgun, shot Ferguson three times.

Ferguson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sandra Phillips was hospitalized for four days after the attack.

— Press Democrat staff

[barj]

I've been postin updates on this. A former cop on this site said somethings up, and, well, he was right.

My favorite part is his possession of the hot dogs? Someone please explain.

[Alexander Rubin]

Maybe a fake bomb or something?

[RaceBannon]

I cant stop laughing either, hot dogs??

[ncountylee]

How was the pattern? Good grouping? They never seem to give enough detail.

[philetus]

What a dead idiot lol

[decal]

He was going to make Mr Phillips eat them with catsup - a fate worse than death.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Meat for the dogs. Throw the hotdogs and the dogs would be out of the way.

[barj]

There was an article yesterday. one in the back or back of shoulder, two in the chest.

[ncountylee]

Thanks, not bad shooting.

[DJ Taylor]

"My favorite part is his possession of the hot dogs? Someone please explain."

The perp had apparently been hiding outside the home for most of the night waiting for an opportunity to attack and was prepared to wait for most of the day. He brought his rations with him.

[builder]

Thanks for the update. I love this story, mostly because of the results.

I knew there was "something more" to the story when the first thread appeared here.

[NonLinear]

Ferguson was carrying bindings, tape, tarps, hot dogs and a blindfold when he was shot dead while struggling with Phillips’ wife in the hallway of their home. Phillips shot him three times.

Need I say it?
Never bring hot dogs to a gun fight!

[sgtbono2002]

He wont be stalking no more.

[TaMoDee]

Nor using Hot Dogs for whatever reason!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[Lou Phillips, armed with a .357-caliber Magnum handgun, shot Ferguson three times...Ferguson was pronounced dead at the scene.]

Awwww. Now I feel all warm and fuzzy.

[DaveLoneRanger]

Update on the would-be ninja.

HOTDOGS??

[Gondring]

ping

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Thanks for the update, we get too few updates.

HOT DOGS, Why?

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Maybe he was planning an homage to the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

I have never seen it, so I don't understand your post.

[tubebender]

I had speculated on a earlier thread that if the wife had a habit of walking the dogs at the same time every morning he became obsessed with her but this is a case of a jilted employee. It certainly consumed his miserable life. Bang Bang Bang and it's over for him but not the victims of his hate.

[Dr.Zoidberg]

One of the characters is named Frank Furter. He was a freak who liked to dress up in strange clothes and had a bondage fetish(if memory serves), it's been a few years since I saw it.

It was an attempt at a bad joke. I'm sorry.

[phoenix0468]

My guess is he was going to use them to distract the dog(s). He probably saw the dog, threw a hotdog, then thought, "damn there's a leash connected to that dog!!"

What a loser.

[jan in Colorado]

Thanks for the ping!

"...harbored ill will for six years and apparently stalked Lou Phillips for at least several months..."

Talk about holding a grudge!

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Thanks for telling me about Frank Furter.

I understand a little bit now and won't have to ask if someone makes a joke about hot dogs and Rockey horror show.

[jocon307]

Yes, hot dogs, that is very strange, perhaps he intended to way lay the dogs with the hot dogs?

[Tenacious 1]

"Now Mister Phillips, after all of these years you will pay for firing me. With that blindfold on, you have no idea what I am about to make you eat....Ha! Ha! Ha! (wife screams through gag at sight of HOTDOGS)."

[School of Rational Thought]

"My favorite part is his possession of the hot dogs? Someone please explain."

Distract his victim's dogs?

[Delta Dawn]

To distract the dogs.