Police believe Va Senator was stabbed by son

[peacebird]

Source: Msn.com

Virginia State Sen. Creigh Deeds was stabbed at his home, but was able to walk away from the house and was picked up by a cousin before someone called 911.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — The son of Virginia state Sen. Creigh Deeds stabbed his father in the head and chest Tuesday before apparently killing himself with a gun, according to initial reports from police.

Authorities were still piecing together a motive and the circumstances that led up to the stabbing of Deeds, the Democrats' gubernatorial nominee four years ago.

Read more: http://news.msn.com/crime-justice/police-believe-va-senator-was-stabbed-by-son?ocid=ansnews11

[Major Nikon]

1. That's the first thing I thought when I read the original reports

The police said they weren't looking for a suspect. It's a very sad situation. Stuff like this seems to happen more often around the holidays.

[mike_c]

2. I believe I read the son was turned away from psychiatric intervention...

...due to a shortage of beds. What a tragedy.

[dlwickham]

5. oh wow

psych care in this country sucks more than general health care does

[LisaL]

6. How pathetic is that?

They couldn't find a bed to put him in. Now he is dead, and his father suffered injuries.

"Dennis Cropper, executive director of the Rockbridge County Community Services Board, told the newspaper that Gus Deeds was released later that day because no available psychiatric beds could be found in Western Virginia."

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/19/virginia-state-sen-creigh-deeds-assaulted-inside-home-police-say/?intcmp=latestnews

[peacebird]

8. Sickening....

[Heather MC]

3. speechless

[question everything]

4. Tragic (nt)

[Skittles]

7. so very sad

just awful

[libdem4life]

9. Following this one closely...later, institutions said there were beds. In CA it's a 5150 for 3 day

three days in an institution because the police get involved...but that assumes a bed for those days. My best guess, family in turmoil...divorce, remarriage, disarray...Dad trying to help, kid flipping out, and got a cocktail of anti-psychotic meds on Monday because he was likely presenting as a danger. Meds can go either way...more side effects than beneficial ones, but because of Reagan Shame starting in California, mental health is an afterthought. Often just a best guess.

Mental patients typically don't kill because they have illnesses, they do because the medications often don't work/create the psychosis meant to help, or because there is no care.

Gus was a musician and a gifted academic...smart and sensitive. Dad was trying to help by moving him in.

One of the amazing items about his recent race as the winner of the Democratic Primary...the race with Mark Warner was that fairly early on, he was told that the numbers didn't look good and he needed to go negative. He said he would not do that, so lost. That's an amazing politician for this decade.

He's recovering, so time will tell what he is able to do with the situation. Surely politics are out. Mark Klaas, Polly Klaas' father, did amazing things for abducted/murdered children through his grief.

RIP for Gus and hope for the rest of the family.