The healing process following the February 26 shooting at Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic has begun; though the physical wounds of the survivors are healing more quickly than the emotional wounds, say local Adventist Church leaders.

Peter Maguadog, 44, entered the Adventist Clinic, Monday at 11 a.m., and in the following minutes fatally shot his ex-wife, Lucia Maguadog, and Bernadette Moreno.  Both women were nurses at the clinic. Four other people were wounded in the attack before police fatally wounded Maguadog. 

All four survivors who sustained gunshoot wounds have now been released from Guam Memorial Hospital.  The last to be released, on March 5, was Jordon Urban who received a gunshot wound to the head.

The day after the shooting the emotional healing began with a special service held at the Agana Heights Adventist Church to remember the dead and pray for the wounded.  More than 440 members of the community packed the church to capacity. The common denominator of shared grief brought together a group that crossed denominational, ethnic, and cultural lines.

Julie Emmanuel, human resource director at the clinic, remembers Lucia Maguadog and Bernadette Moreno as being very different people.  “If variety is the spice of life, then Lucia and Bernie enriched our lives,” said Emmanuel.  Emmanuel described Maguadog as being a strong and resilient person who commanded respect and Moreno as being a person who loved to laugh and make others happy.

Tuesday evening, February 27, the clinic offered its first group counseling session.  Three more sessions were offered Wednesday and Mike Mahoney, clinic administrator, indicated that further sessions would be available if there was a demand for them.  He adds that individual counseling will also be available to anyone who wants it.

The Guam Police Department finished its investigation of the crime scene February 28 and returned control of the premises to clinic officials. The clinic reopened on March 1, offering limited services, and on March 6, the clinic was fully reopened with all previous services available.

Mahoney says that some employees are ready to return to work and others are not. “We have assured them that we will work with them as long as it takes for them to be prepared to go in,” says Mahoney. “Nobody is going to be rushed into doing something they don’t want to do.”

A funeral service for Moreno was held March 5 at Agana Heights Adventist Church. The church opened up its basement, lobby, and upper level to accommodate the more than 700 familiy members, friends, and community and church leaders. Guam’s governor attended, along with other local legislators and Adventist Church leaders in the Guam-Micronesia region. Robert Kloosterhuis, a former vice president of the Adventist Church worldwide, represented the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at the service.

As the healing process starts, Willy Nobuo, president of the Adventist Church in Guam-Micronesia, is thankful for the many people and organizations around the world that have lifted up in prayer those affected by the tragedy at the Adventist clinic. 

“I have received messages from all over the world telling me we are being remembered in prayer,” says Nobuo. “It has been a much-needed boost to our heavy hearts to know our brothers and sisters in Christ are praying for us.”

The Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic, established in 1955, is a multi-specialty medical and dental clinic that employs more than 200 people. 

Killed:

Lucia Maguadog, 43, nurse, who was estranged from her husband, Peter Maguadog.
Bernadette Moreno, 27, nurse.
Peter Aguon Maguadog, 44, former clinic employee and alleged gunman.

Wounded:

Betty Vence, 56, chief accountant
Tom Kim, 46, business consultant
Anthony Cruz Jr., 26, supply clerk
Jordan Urban, 29, Guam Adventist Academy accountant