Federal agents arrest suspect in Doug Carlile slaying

A North Dakota oil speculator thought by Spokane police investigators to have ordered the fatal shooting of Doug Carlile last month in Spokane was arrested Saturday on federal firearms charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

James Henrikson, 34, was arrested without incident in Mandan, N.D., according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Timothy Purdon in Bismarck. Agents from the Department of Homeland Security and the local narcotics task force assisted in the arrest, Purdon said.

Mandan lies just west of Bismarck and about 150 miles southeast of Henrikson’s home in Watford City, N.D.

Henrikson faces a federal charge of possessing firearms as a felon. Purdon didn’t mention Henrikson’s suspected involvement in the shooting death of Carlile on Dec. 15.

Investigators think Henrikson hired Timothy Suckow, 50, as the triggerman in a plan to kill his former business associate who allegedly owed him millions, according to documents filed in Spokane County Superior Court.

Associates said Henrikson had attempted to buy Carlile out of a contract for tribal lands thought to be flush with oil, but Carlile refused at least one offer.

Carlile’s family told police he had grown leery of Henrikson in the weeks before he was killed. One of Carlile’s sons said his father told him, “If I disappear or wake up with bullets in my back, promise me you will let everyone know that James Henrikson did it,” according to court documents.

On Dec. 15, Carlile was confronted in his kitchen by an intruder wearing a mask and gloves, his wife told police. Carlile tried to divert the gunman’s attention from his wife, and several shots were fired, killing Carlile.

Suckow was arrested last week after a glove found at Carlile’s home near Hutton Elementary School following the shooting showed traces of Suckow’s DNA. Suckow is being held in jail in lieu of $2 million bond.