Woman accused of helping son leave scene of murder

The mother of a murder suspect appeared in court Thursday on a charge of first-degree rendering criminal assistance because prosecutors say she helped her son flee the scene of the crime.

Shannon M. Mellon, 42, was ordered held on $20,000 bond. Her son, Brandon Mellon, 26, is suspected of shooting Arnold Lommasson in the back of the head in his apartment at 2228 N. Astor St. on Jan. 3.

Shannon Mellon told police that she drove her son away from the scene and then accompanied him and his girlfriend on a trip to the Tri-Cities, according to court documents. Police arrested Brandon Mellon after he accidentally shot himself in the leg in a Pasco hotel room. Shannon Mellon told police she was dropped off in Richland, documents say.

Brandon Mellon was treated at a Portland hospital and then was extradited to the Spokane County Jail. He is being held on $1 million bond for a first-degree murder charge.

Shannon Mellon said her son might have killed Lommasson because he is “crazy,” according to court documents. She also told police that her son claimed the gun went off accidentally.