La Center homeowner shoots, kills prowler
LA CENTER, Wash. (AP) - The Clark County Sheriff's Office says a homeowner shot a suspected prowler at his home in La Center Tuesday morning.
Later in the morning, the sheriff's office said 29-year-old Barry Parnel, who was shot, died from his injuries.
When deputies arrived just after midnight, they found Parnel wounded in the driveway of the residence. He was taken to Peace Health Medical Center in Vancouver and later passed away.
The homeowner, 59-year-old Leland Larsen, told investigators he heard a noise on his rural property and went out to investigate. He said he confronted the suspect and shot him in the chest. The medical examiner said Parnel died from a "shotgun wound to the chest and abdomen."
Larsen's wife, Mary, went to let one of her dogs outside at about 12:30 a.m. and saw a man.
Mary later told her neighbor, Barbara Barnhart, what happened. Sheriff deputies later confirmed the events.
"She opened the door. The male dog was snarling at this individual, a hulk of a man, she called him, in a black, hooded sweatshirt. And she closed the door really quick-like and screamed and her husband came to her aid. And I guess he got his gun and he went out," Barnhart said, who has been the Larsens' neighbor for 18 years.
"They're very upset. They're fine people. They're not mean. They're good to all their neighbors, and I feel very bad for them," she said. "I think he was justified. I would not hesitate to do the same thing myself to protect my house and my family, my husband and so on."
While deputies were headed to the property, Larsen told dispatchers he had shot the suspect, according to a press release from the Clark County Sheriff's Office.
Detectives are interviewing residents and processing the home for evidence. Neighbors of the couple that lives on the property said the residents were "very nice people." Long-time La Center Police Chief Tim Hopkin told KATU News he could not recall any past visits to the property by officers.
Hopkin said he has been Chief of Police since 1996 and has worked in La Center since 1985.
Police said it appears the homeowner and suspect did not know each other.
No charges against Larsen, who may have fired in self-defense, have been announced, deputies said. In Oregon and Washington, it is only legal to shoot an intruder in your home if you are being attacked.
Other states have broader protections, known as Castle laws or Castle doctrines, for homeowners and individuals who take action against threats to their person or property,
In a press release, the sheriff's office said detectives from the Clark County Major Crimes Unit continue to investigate the shooting and will release additional information as the investigation progresses. Larsen is reportedly cooperating with police.
KATU News reporter Bob Heye contributed to this report.