A mother calls the son who saved her life a hero after their neighbor attempted to end both of their lives before turning the gun on himself. Patricia Buckworth, a 40-year-old single mother, lay on her bedroom floor next to her 19-year-old son Rodrick Buckworth, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Moments before, they remember hearing their neighbor Jason Lee Brunson, 41, say, “This is not happening. This is a dream.” Brunson then shot himself and collapsed onto Buckworth.
Almost a month after the June 10 shooting, Roderick and his mother are both recovering from their wounds to tell the bizarre story of the shooting. Roderick said he was watching TV when he heard someone kicking at their door. The person on the other side kicked again, this time bursting their front door open. He darted into his room to protect his mother from the intruder who had began firing shots. Brunson entered the room where Roderick and his mother were hiding and struck both before fatally shooting himself. The mother and son were able to flee their apartment and seek help to treat their medical injuries.
Police have no leads in a motive for the attempted murders. Buckworth told investigators that she met Brunson just once days before in the hallway. As she was exiting her apartment with a female friend, Brunson accused her of making fun of him. He told her that he was an Army vet and Patricia Buckworth’s friend thanked him for his service. She recalls him mentioning that he had mental health issues and showing a card showing he was a disabled veteran.
James A. Coty, spokesman at the Wilmington Veterans Affair Medical Center, could not comment on whether Brunson was a patient at the center. However they released a statement of sympathy to both families affected by the shooting.
“The incident concerning Mr. Brunson was a tragedy for the community and everyone who was involved. The VA cannot comment on any individual’s health care – however, timely, quality access to services is the highest priority for the staff at the Wilmington VA Medical Center.”
[Photo: Deleware Online]