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Police: Centralia man died from two shots from 9 mm handgun

Updated at 12:40 p.m.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

Police believe David Wayne Carson was shot twice in the chest with a 9 mm handgun yesterday on B Street in Centralia.

Carson was dead inside the home after police and aid responded to calls just before 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Carson, 43, is a Centralia resident.

The 29-year-old man who lives there – Weston G. Miller – fled before police arrived and was found soon after, driving a pickup truck on Big Hanaford Road, according to police. He was taken into custody without incident, police reported.

Miller was arrested and booked yesterday evening for first-degree murder.

Police haven’t revealed what they learned about what transpired inside the house or led to the shooting.

Officers searched the home yesterday and found a 9 mm handgun, which they believe was used to shoot Carson, according to the Centralia Police Department. They also found several other firearms, Officer John Panco said in a news release this morning.

Later today, police plan to search Miller’s truck to look for more evidence, Panco said.

Panco said a 9 mm is bigger than a .22 but not as big as a .45 – police usually carry a .40 or .45, he said.

“We think a total of three bullets were fired,” Panco said.

Two struck Carson in the chest, according to Panco.

Carson and his girlfriend had been staying at the house and were getting ready to move out, according to his younger brother, Dan Carson.

Dan Carson said his brother worked at Hardel plywood in Chehalis until a couple of years ago. Before that, he had a job in California taking care of expensive show dogs, he said. They both grew up in Centralia, he said.

Miller is expected to go before a judge this afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.

An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.

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Correction: This story has been updated to reflect correctly the size of firearm Officer Panco said Centralia police usually carry.

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For background, read “Breaking news: Man fatally shot in Centralia, suspect arrested” from Tuesday March 13, 2012 at 6:36 p.m., here [1]