Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Suspect in Stevens County arrow killing says he felt threatened

The statement of a Stevens County man suspected of killing his half-brother with a bow and arrow on Monday doesn’t match the evidence, authorities say.

Raymond Eugene Rudd is jailed in Stevens County on suspicion of first-degree murder. Investigators believe Rudd shot his half-brother, 46-year-old Brian Edward Brodie, during an argument Monday at Rudd’s residence in the 1300 block of Highway 395 - in the small community of Addy - shortly after 2:30 p.m.

Brodie died of his injuries at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane about six hours later.

“A brother killing a brother is one of the oldest stories in the world. But it’s hard to make any sense out of something that is essentially senseless,” said Stevens County Prosecutor Tim Rasmussen.

Stevens County Sheriff’s detectives and deputies discovered a compound bow on a table inside the home, according to court records. Rudd told a sheriff’s deputy he felt threatened during a fight with Brodie inside the home, firing an arrow and possibly stabbing his half-brother.

But authorities found Brodie, with two entrance wounds and one exit wound, lying wounded in the grass outside the mobile home. The brothers’ mother, who was also present at the mobile home, told authorities Rudd removed an arrow from Brodie.

Rudd also said Brodie had tried to stab him with an arrow during the altercation, according to court records. The mother told authorities she went with Brodie, who wanted to confront his brother about a family issue.

An arrow with a three-bladed head was found in a bush outside the mobile home, with blood on the tip and shaft, according to court records.

Rudd was taken into custody without incident. A Stevens County judge Wednesday found probable cause to hold him on suspicion of murder.