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The Lewis County Coroner’s Office has positively identified the victim of a fatal July 4 shooting near Randle as Dusty Phelps, a 51-year-old transient.
The cause of death was penetrating gunshot wound to the head and the manner was homicide.
This story will be updated.
Here’s the most recent story on the shooting:
Sheriff’s Office: Man Killed in Randle Allegedly Fired First Shots
A man shot and killed July 4 in Randle allegedly fired the first shots in the confrontation, witnesses told the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
An autopsy was completed Friday on the man, tentatively identified based on information found at the scene as a 51-year-old transient, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The man’s next of kin has been notified, but has not yet made a positive identification of the body.
Deputies are continuing to investigate the fatal shooting, which was reported at 7:14 p.m. Tuesday off Forest Service Road 2801 near Cispus Road in Randle.
The 911 caller, a 63-year-old Glenoma man, reported that he shot a man at a campsite in self-defense. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Morton Police Department and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife responded.
The 63-year-old man reported that he and his wife contacted the decedent at his campsite suspecting that the man was “discharging firearms in an unsafe manner,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
He told investigators the transient then fired multiple shots at them and their vehicle, including one round into the interior of the vehicle.
The Glenoma man, who had a firearm in his car, fired back one round and killed the decedent.
“Although initial evidence at the scene, and the autopsy results, appear consistent with the 911 caller’s account, a thorough investigation continues and will be forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review upon completion,” a release from the Sheriff’s Office states.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-748-9286 or Lewis County 911 Communications at 360-740-1105.
