Police Identify Suspect In Kettle Falls Shooting

A suspect in a Sunday night shooting north of Kettle Falls, Wash., was identified Wednesday as Jess M. Brown.

Brown, 34, is believed to have fired several shots at a man who tried to help a woman who reportedly was being harassed by Brown’s roommate. One of the shots Brown is suspected of firing caused a superficial wound in the back of 43-year-old Mark Friend’s right leg.

Friend came to the assistance of a neighbor, April Kingsbury, when he heard her arguing loudly with William J. Barr, 33, at her home about seven miles north of Kettle Falls, across the Columbia River from Evans, Wash. Witnesses said Barr wanted Kingsbury, 20, to live with him and she refused.

When Friend squirted Barr with pepper spray, Barr called for help from several companions and Brown allegedly opened fire with a .22-caliber weapon.

Barr was shot to death later Sunday when he went to the nearby home of Margarita Kingsbury, 32, who is an aunt of April Kingsbury’s husband. Margarita Kingsbury told sheriff’s investigators she shot Barr with a .22-caliber rifle after he threatened her and pointed a pistol at her.

Stevens County Prosecutor Jerry Wetle hasn’t decided yet whether to prosecute Kingsbury.

Undersheriff Gilbert Geer said Barr and Brown had been living together in a three-sided metal building on Flat Creek Road, near Northport, Wash. Brown is believed still to be in the area, but officers have been unable to find him.

He is described as unkempt, 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, with light brown hair. Brown has a felony record in California, but details were not immediately available.

, DataTimes