Updated at 12:05 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
No arrest has been made but detectives continue to investigate after a 56-year-old Salkum man fatally shot his neighbor over the weekend, apparently over a neighborhood dog getting shot.
Travis Shive, 28, was shot twice in the man’s front yard and was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on Saturday night.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office this morning said they still don’t know who shot the dog, but it is still alive.
“It is believed the 28 year old had gone to 56 year old man’s house in error, thinking he was at the house of someone who had allegedly shot the neighborhood dog,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said in a news release.
The 56-year-old, who was not named, is not in custody and is cooperating with law enforcement, according to Brown.
The man told deputies he armed himself with a .380 semi-automatic handgun after Shive came to his front porch ranting, accusing him of shooting the dog and refused to leave, Brown said.
The sheriff’s office says a fight took place in the yard after Shive lunged at the older man and then he was shot.
Brown said there is no indication Shive had a gun.
Detectives continue to talk to the numerous witnesses of the incident and the investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives are also awaiting the results of the autopsy, Brown indicated.
It happened about 8:10 p.m. at the 200 block of Stowell Road.
The sheriff’s office says Shive was able to walk off the property before collapsing. CPR was performed by others in the area until medics arrived, according to Brown.
Stowell Road was closed while detectives examined the scene and interviewed the shooter.
Brown describes the shooter’s version of what occurred:
He told deputies he told Shive repeatedly to leave but Shive continued to yell at him.
He said he felt threatened so he got a gun and went outside to tell Shive again to leave.
Lewis County Coroner Warren McLeod said an autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow.
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CORRECTION: This news story has been updated to clarify the 56-year-old resident only left his house one time to meet up with Shive in his yard.