The suspect, Scott Harlan Thorpe, being transported in a California Highway Patrol vehicle to the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada City.

GRASS VALLEY, Calif., Updated 11:27 p.m. PST January 10, 2001 -- Three people were killed and two others wounded at a county office and restaurant Wednesday by a gunman who investigators believe was a mental patient convinced that the restaurant was trying to poison him.

The suspect, 40-year-old Scott Harlan Thorpe, was taken into custody without incident at his home in Smartville at 9 p.m.

Thorpe is accused of going into the county social services building in Nevada City at about 11:30 a.m. and shooting three people at the outpatient mental health clinic with a handgun, killing a 19-year-old woman who worked there and a visiting 68-year-old caregiver.

Authorities identified the woman wounded at the county building as Judith Edzards, 49. She was in critical condition at Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

A fourth person, Daisy Switzer, reportedly broke her leg jumping from a window to escape.

Thorpe is also believed to be responsible for multiple shooting victims at a Lyons restaurant on Brunswick Road in Grass Valley.

Restaurant manager Mike Markle, 24, was shot and killed. And a cook, 34-year-old Richard Senuty, was wounded but reportedly in good condition at the Sierra Nevada Hospital in Grass Valley.

A 37-year-old woman shot at the restaurant was brought to Sutter Roseville Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds and was listed in critical condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Two county employees were also being treated at the hospital: one who hurt a foot while fleeing the county health building, and one receiving treatment for emotional trauma.

According to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, Thorpe's brother Kent Thorpe called authorities and said that his brother had telephoned him and admitted to the shootings at both the Lyons restaurant adn the HEW building.

Authorities said that they believe Scott Thorpe was unhappy with the mental-health care he received at the county clinic, and feared he was being poisoned at the restaurant.

"It is a dark day for our county," county board Chairwoman Elizabeth Martin told reporters. "I'm here to express our deep grief and horror at this loss to our community and offer our condolences to the families."

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