FBI says gunman threatened doctor before shooting, killing him at VA clinic; gunman committed suicide
The FBI has released the names of the victim and gunman in Tuesday’s shooting incident at the VA clinic on Fort Bliss, near Central El Paso.
The victim was psychologist 63-year-old Dr. Timothy Fjordbak and the gunman was 48-year-old Jerry Serrato.
Doug Lindquist, FBI Special Agent in Charge in El Paso, said Serrato used a .380 caliber firearm to shoot and kill Fjordbak. Lindquist also said Serrato had extra clips for that firearm, a mace gun in his vehicle at the facility, and a loaded shotgun at his home.
FBI and VA officials did not disclose how many times Fjordbak was shot but did say he was transported to a hospital for treatment and that is where he died.
After shooting Fjordbak on the fourth floor of the VA clinic, Serrato committed suicide on the third floor.
FBI officials said that Serrato verbally threatened Fjordbak at a grocery store in 2013 and that Fjordbak reported it. Fjordbak did not recognize Serrato in the grocery store.
Linquist paraphrased the threat as saying, “I know what you did. I’m going to take care of it.”
The FBI also said there was no working relationship established between Fjordbak and Serrato.
Fjordbak had 33 years of experience as a psychologist and left a very successful practice to work with soldiers who were returning from war, according to Lindquist.
Patients of the Fjordbak told ABC-7 he was a supervisor in a mental health unit and a specialist in diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injuries, in addition to being a mental and behavioral health specialist.
“I saw him two weeks ago,” said Michael Rushton. Now he and others are coping as they learn details about the doctor’s murder. “I heard he was shot in the head and in the chest.”
Serrato worked at the VA clinic for a short time in 2013 as a clerk.
Serrato was in the Army from 2006 to 2009 as an infantryman and had one combat deployment to Iraq from March to July in 2007. See below article for his complete military service record.
Reports of an active shooter at the clinic were first reported at about 3:10 p.m. Tuesday. ABC-7 spotted several helicopters hovering around the hospital. El Paso and military police immediately set up a perimeter around the medical center.
Hospital and clinic employees, as well as patients, were evacuated into the parking lot. They boarded several white buses brought to the hospital’s parking in order to stay warm.
Lindquist said area law enforcement agencies had been preparing to deal with an active shooter incident. “Unfortunately, we had to exercise that (Tuesday),” he said, adding agents will be interviewing hundreds of potential witnesses.
Weapons are not allowed on VA property. There are no metal detectors at the VA clinic where the shooting occurred.
Service Record of Jerry Serrato
Home of Record: Corpus Christi, Texas (at time of enlistment)
Rank: Specialist (SPC) effective July 2006
MOS/Branch: Infantryman (11B)
Component: Active Army
He originally served with the Ohio Army National Guard from 1985-1989. After a break in service he enlisted in the Active Army in July 2006. He was medically discharged in February 2009
Dates of Service: July 2006 – February 2009
Assignments:
February 1985-March 1993: Ohio Army National Guard
March 1993-July 2006: Break in Service
July-November 2006: Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; and Fort Benning, Georgia
November 2006-October 2007: 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana
October 2007-February 2009: Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Polk, Louisiana
February 2009: Medically discharged from the Army
Deployments:
Iraq: March-July 2007
Awards:
National Defense Service Medal
Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
