Police Arrest Shooting Suspect

Sat., Nov. 11, 2000

From Staff

A man who allegedly shot at passing cars with an assault rifle was taken into custody Friday after a standoff with a SWAT team at his home here.

No injuries were reported, but at least one vehicle reportedly was hit.

Officers tried to speak to Axel Struck, 50, at about 10 a.m. but left his property after he aimed his rifle at them, the Lewis County sheriff’s department said.

The SWAT team and Chehalis police officers helped surround the house. Struck fired several rounds during the standoff, the sheriff’s office said.

The Chehalis Police Department said Struck was arrested about 4:40 p.m. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail and would be referred to mental health authorities, the department said.

Officers said they had been called to the man’s home previously because neighbors complained about him using his gun, but he had never shot at anyone before.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.