Jailed man says fatal shooting an accident

A man being held in Bonner County Jail says the shooting death of another man was an accident.

Keith Allan Brown, in a phone interview with the Bonner County Daily Bee, said he was trying to get control of a .22-caliber rifle held by Leslie Carlton Breaw.

“He was shot as a result of a struggle over a gun between him and I,” said Brown, who called the newspaper. “I was also shot and have a bullet hole on me.” Brown said he was shot in the leg.

Brown, 46, was arrested in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on March 20, accused of using Breaw’s debit card, and was returned to Idaho.

Brown, who has not been charged in Breaw’s death, was charged with one count of fraudulent use of a credit card and held on $100,000 bond. Brown said he had permission to use the card.

Phil Robinson, Bonner County prosecuting attorney, said the investigation into Breaw’s death is “in process,” and charges could be filed at its conclusion.

Tyrah Brown, 24, was picked up in Florida with her husband. She was being held in Yellowstone County Jail in Billings. Robinson said she was being held for a parole violation.

Breaw, 48, was reported missing Feb. 4 when his abandoned truck was found. His body was found in March in the Priest Lake area.

Robinson said the cause of death was a gunshot.

Keith Brown said he and Breaw had been friends and business partners but had a falling out.

On the day shots were fired, Brown said Breaw had been drinking, and he then either accidentally or intentionally shot Brown in the leg, and the two began struggling for the weapon.

“We were struggling back and forth and it went off,” Brown told the newspaper.

He said he was afraid authorities wouldn’t believe his account, and so decided to leave the state.