The death of an 84-year-old Chehalis man found last week in the 300 block of Market Boulevard has been ruled a homicide by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.
Royland E. Barnett, of Chehalis, died from a gunshot wound to his head, according to a news release from the coroner’s office.
The Chehalis Police Department confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the wound “was not self-inflicted.”
The Chehalis Police Department announced the death on Thursday, April 11, after Barnett’s body was found at a residence.
Officers with the Chehalis Police Department were dispatched to a report of “a possibly unresponsive male” at approximately 8:57 a.m., according to a news release from the police department.
“When medical staff arrived, they determined the male was deceased,” the Chehalis Police Department stated in the news release. “Based on the initial circumstances, officers believed the death to be suspicious and Chehalis detectives responded to take control of the scene.”
“Although no arrests have been made at this point, detectives are following several leads and are continuing to actively investigate this case,” the Chehalis Police Department stated in a news release on Tuesday. “Based on the information we have currently, we do not believe this to be a random act and do not believe there to be an active threat to the community.”
The case is currently under investigation and no additional information is being released at this time, according to the Chehalis Police Department.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Jeff Fithen or Detective Sergeant Warren Ayers at 360-748-8605.
