Shooting leaves woman stunned

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2001-10-24

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Shooting leaves woman stunned Central Point victim says suspect was jealous, 'paranoid' By DANI DODGE As she went in and out of consciousness, the trail of a bullet etched in red across her face, Lynda Lee said she was shocked that her ex-boyfriend shot her. She'd broken up with Glenn Jeffry McIlveen several months ago because he had "problems," she said. Only now does she know she shouldn't have continued to try to help him get over his "paranoia." "I should have trusted myself more," the 23-year-old said before nodding back to sleep in her hospital room. McIlveen, 31, of 4614 Table Rock Road, Central Point, was arraigned Monday on charges of attempted murder and first-degree assault, crimes that carry a minimum sentence of 71/2 years and a maximum of 20 years. Shortly after noon Sunday, McIlveen allegedly went to Lee's family business at 5245 Table Rock Road and shot Lee with a .38-caliber revolver, according to police. She was wounded in the head, stomach, arms and leg. After 16 hours of surgery, she was listed in serious condition at Rogue Valley Medical Center on Monday. She is expected to remain in intensive care through Friday. McIlveen turned himself over to the Grants Pass Police Department at about 8 p.m. Sunday. At his arraignment Monday afternoon in a Jackson County courtroom, he answered Judge Ray White with grunting replies. "Yeah," he understood the charges against him. When asked if he wanted an attorney, he just nodded yes. Police have the gun that McIlveen allegedly used in the shooting, and he has talked to authorities about the incident. White set McIlveen's bail at $1 million. McIlveen reportedly worked and lived at Warmington Coachworks, an auto restoration shop. According to Jackson County court records, he's had few previous run-ins with the law - a conviction for driving while suspended in 1998, and a conviction for following another car too close that he pleaded guilty to on Thursday. Lee - who only moved from Sweden to the United States permanently a year ago - had been on her way from her Medford home to San Francisco on Sunday to pick up a friend from the airport when she stopped by her family business, a company that makes glass art and smoking accessories like pipes. Lee's mother, who didn't want her name in the newspaper, surmised that McIlveen must have seen Lee drive past and followed her to the business. "There was only the two of them there at the time," said Deputy District Attorney Timothy Barnack, adding that investigators continue to interview Lee and McIlveen. Lee's mother said that in the past McIlveen had been verbally abusive to her daughter but not physically abusive. Lee's mother said that whenever McIlveen was around her, he was a "sweet, nice guy." But Lee knew McIlveen had problems and she tried to help him, she said. In the daze of painkillers Monday, she couldn't remember exactly how long they had dated, but believed it was maybe six months off and on. "I thought he was very paranoid and jealous," Lee said. "And his imagination would run off. He would make things up in his mind." When he confronted her at the business he told her she had ruined his life - and then started shooting, she said. A neighbor heard the screams and shots and called police. Lee tried to deflect the bullets aimed at her face by putting her arms up. After she was shot, she fell to the ground and played dead with her mouth and eyes open, hoping he'd leave. It worked. Paramedics took Lee to the hospital where she was initially listed in critical condition. "She's very lucky and very strong," said Lee's nurse, Robin Higinbotham. Lee's mother stayed by her daughter's side Monday evening and between bouts of tears, she said her daughter definitely has been strong through this, although seeing McIlveen on television Monday night was emotionally draining. "I guess if it's not your time to go, you don't go," she said. "I'm just happy she's going to be OK." Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected]     Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.