By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Lewis County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer announced today he will not file any criminal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Travis Shive by a neighbor in Salkum in May.
“While the loss of life is tragic under any circumstances, it appears that Mr. Ritter acted in self defense,” Meyer stated in a formal news release today.
Ritter is Jack L. Ritter, 56, who told deputies he felt threatened because Shive had been on his front porch ranting, accusing him of shooting his dog and refused to leave.
Shive was unarmed, but Meyer said witnesses indicated Shive was the aggressor in the situation.
It happened the evening of May 10 on the 200 block of Stowell Road, about a half block from the Salkum Super market.
Shive had gotten a phone call telling him his dog had been shot by someone in the white house and arrived on his ATV to Ritter’s front yard, according to Meyer. He was at the wrong house, according to Meyer.
Ritter came out of the back of his house armed with .380 semi-automatic handgun, telling Shive to get off his property, he didn’t shoot his dog and Shive was about to go, but then went at Ritter, according to authorities.
Shive died from a gunshot wound that entered his abdomen and traveled into his chest. He was also shot in the left shoulder.
Ritter was afraid for his safety, Meyer said.
In the decline letter Meyer wrote to Lewis County Sheriff’s Office detective Kevin Engelbertson, Meyer wrote that the facts in the matter do not support criminal charges against Ritter.
At trial Ritter would claim self defense and the state would not be able to rebut the claim based on the available evidence, Meyer wrote.
Meyer said in cases where it’s a close call, that’s when he concludes a jury should decide.
He contrasted it with the Ronald Brady case of 2010 when Brady was charged with first-degree murder for shooting an unarmed suspected burglar outside a house he owned in Onalaska. Brady was convicted by a jury of a lesser charge of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.
“The victim in that case was running away when shot,” Meyer said. “In this case, the victim was engaged in a struggle for a gun.”
The law is clear that a person can act in defense of themselves or others, Meyer said.
“But whether those actions are reasonable are going to be analyzed and scrutinized,” he said.
He said these kinds of cases are very fact specific.
“There isn’t a clear cut, this-is-the-line rule,” Meyer said. “Sometimes it’s going to turn on minute facts.”
More to come
•••
For background, read “Investigation continues into deadly Salkum dispute” from Wednesday May 14, 2014, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I know Jack and Travis… I know jack from Narcotics Anonymous… … … real big on preaching spiritual principles, obviously not big on practicing them… It baffles me how Jack, with a decent amount of clean time could be so intolerant of someone with a “past”.. Especially when he it’s supposed to be a pillar in the recovery community. (I could care less about anonymity right now by the way) let me tell you anyone who gets pissed off enough to grab a gun instead of a phone has a couple screws loose.. his poor daughter who is realyoung will grow up remember ing the night daddy killed someone… she would have forgot a call to the police…. Now about Travis, the were so many people at his service.. only standing room in the fire hall.. yup he had a history with crime and drugs., he also saw the value in a normal life and that’s what he was going for… he had a good job a good girl friend. . He was cleaning up the wreckage of his past.. Travis was a beautiful, one of a kind person. . He was hilarious and loving. . Maybe Travis should be sitting inn jail for harassment but he should not be dead… his death left a whole in the lives of countless people and Jacks psychotic recklessness is responsible. . I still can’t beleive he is gone..
Oh look disrespecting again, trav is gone. Why must you say he has a few screws loose? Nobody knows what they will do in a situation like that until they come face to face with something so horrible.
Nobody knows if Shive intended to kill him but anyone dumb enough to lunge at a man with a gun obviously has a few screws loose and there is no telling what runs thru their mind.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be able to say it without being bashed. Just because my opinion isn’t the same as yours doesn’t mean you are better than me. You don’t even know me. For your information he was only an acquaintance not a friend as you may think. I know he was wrong by going there , but, it was more wrong for shooter to come out with the gun…..was Trav there to end Ritters life? No he wasn’t so how is that fair. I still say Ritter went to provoke an already intense situation. Sorry that you don’t like my opinion but its staying the same. Thank you Look in the Mirror and Guiltybystander. Finally there is some that aren’t so hateful still out there!
I’m pretty sure there is some bashing going on. Poor trav, seriously. Everyone is quick to judge someone’s past! It’s a sick world with some sick no it all people. Calling him a burn out blah blah blah he met his match. Really? Why call him names now? Does it make you feel big and tough, seems to me y’all are disrespectful ass holes. That’s my opinion by the way. Trav was a good guy with a big heart but the people bashing won’t see past that because of his record. Who fucking cares about that honestly. The way I see people is who they are today, how they treat me and my loved ones. Trav had a big heart and would do anything for anyone. Who cares if he use to do drugs, 90 percent of Lewis county has….in one form or another. Grow up people and respect that this man was laid to rest so why don’t you stop bad mouthing him? Have a grand day
If Shive had broken down the door and entered Ritter’s home, I’d consider that a green light for Ritter to do what he needed to protect himself (including pulling the trigger). I’m not defending Shive, who behaved reprehensibly and WAS trespassing and committing verbal assault, but I’m also not on board when a homeowner chooses to bypass calling 911 and instead goes out their back door and comes around to the front porch to confront an unarmed man and then kills him. How is it “self-defense” when you’re escalating a confrontation like that?
Oh, well…we’ll all see what happens next with a civil suit, and you KNOW there’ll be one filed.
Republican logger is right. He knows his way around the legal system real well. Sad story but justice was served.
Well I guess we know who of us here are smart enough not to go onto someone elses property starting an altercation and it is blatantly obvious who on here never learned to respect others property.
Salkum resident, you and your rhetoric has won the tinfoil hat award.
I didn’t say or think of it as a random act of violence but what Iam saying is travis isnt the only guilty party here. Yes he did make bad decisions, but it shouldn’t cost him his life….I can name many more whys such as why are people so judgemental and unfeeling? I can go on but I have better things to do than say stupid shit wiyh stupid people. They both made bad decisions and only one is being (or paid) for it. what a shame you trigger happy people cant see it any other way but one.NO ONE SHOULD HAVE LOST THIER LIFE. And the dog shooter who started this is not even being looked for…..I suppose thats ok with you all too
Since we are playing the “why?” Game, how about this list.
Why didn’t Travis keep his dog at home and not running around the neighborhood?
When finding out his loose running dog got shot in the leg, why didn’t Travis take it to a vet?
Why didn’t Travis call the police?
Why didn’t Travis accept responsibility for his dog’s injury rather than cruise the neighborhood looking for someone to beat up?
Why didn’t Travis listen to all the people who said “Your at the wrong house”?
Why didn’t Travis leave another man’s property when he was told to?
Why did Travis attack the property owner who he knew to be armed?
Why did Travis continue to fight the home owner after the first shot?
Why did Travis die? Because he made the worst possible decisions on each of these questions.
I am sorry for the loss of Travis, but he’s hardly the victim of a random act of violence.
to expand my comment that I had a gun pulled on me one time by a home owner, I was actually on City property, but the home owner did not think so, so came out and pointed a shotgun at me at close range and told me to get off their property. I left and called the county sheriff and when the cops came out to confront the homeowner-the homeowner shot at the cops through their front room window-the end result was the home owner was committed to an mental hospital for the remainder of her days-this whole thing scared the hell out of me, I guess I didn’t realize just how close I came to getting shot
Salkum Resident, you imply that if the homeowner would have stayed in his home and called the police that the shooting wouldn’t have happened. How about backing that night’s events up a bit and understanding that if Travis would have stayed at his home and called the police, then the shooting wouldn’t have happened?
The shooter’s past history is irrelevant here, just as Travis’ past is irrelevant. I realize that Travis’ friends and family members are hurting and mourning his loss, but it doesn’t change the fact that under our current laws, the shooter was within his rights to have his gun on his property. If Travis hadn’t gone there in the first place, and then charged at the man when he did come out with his gun, Travis would still be here today. END OF STORY!
Salkum resident-did the shooter go to Travis house to provoke him? so who was the real provoker here? If I was angry, and went to someone’s else’s house, if the owner came out with a gun (by the way, this actually happened to me), the first thing I would of done was left the person’s property and went and called the police, I sure the hell would of lunged at someone with a gun -that would be very stupid (unless I was on some kind of drug)?
why didn’t he stay inside and call 911 then let the cops handle it. Works both ways,seems to me he was the one playing billy bad ass
No one is bashing a dead man Salkum Resident, they are bashing YOU and your opinion. No one here knows any of the players personally but it is an open forum for opinion. You don’t and obviously wont get the fact that the dead guy had ZERO business confronting anyone about anything. Had he not done what he did he would be alive today and going about his business. I seriously doubt that Ritter woke up that morning hoping to shoot some dude, his life is forever changed also by the act of Shive confronting him on his property. If you cant see the logic in this too bad, Seattle is looking for bleeding heart residents, maybe you should consider a move…
Salkum resident, did the shooter go to shive’s residence and start the altercation?
No.
Shive went looking for an altercation and found one.
If the shooter was supposed to stay in his home then why didn’t shive stay at his and call the police about the dog?
Your theory shows a double standard and hypocrisy.
to free air…attack an armed man….had he chose to stay in this wouldnt have happened….as far as looking for trouble….seems to me whoever shot the dog was the one looking for trouble…I feel the shooter went outside to provoke the situation to make it to where he could shoot because then it would be self defence….seems the had a run in before for music supposedly being to loud, maybe shooter provoked. How does it feel to bash a dead man…no value on human life any of you judgementle people
No one is missing the point here Salkum Resident. The point is Shrive went on another mans property and started an altercation. As said before, Billy Badass met his maker. And for your information it doesn’t mean ship that he was a felon, tweaker or whatever. He got what he asked for by starting trouble on someone else’s property. The solution was simple here, stay home and let the cops handle the dog investigation. This whole thing shows what is gonna happen to stupid people that start crap with well prepared citizens.
Why didn’t the guy warn Travis thru the door about the gun instead of going out to something he is afraid of? prisoners to our own home…..thats stretching it a little far don’t you think…what about not being able to get medical aid to him until it was secured because dude was sitting on porch with his gun? There are so much more to consider if you had an open mind……closed minds should ncome with closed mouths!
See this is what I mean…do you know the shooter? How do you know hes a perfect role model to life? That dont change the fact that this is all ok, just because you think it is doesn’t mean it is. who are you to judge anyway?
“Everyone is so into blaming Travis because he had a felony…”
No!
Everyone is blaming Travis because he attacked an armed home owner for something he did not do.
It’s as simple as that.
We do not have to be prisoners of our own homes because some “former” meth’d out hothead that thinks he is Billy Badass comes trespassing on our property looking for trouble.
The lil burnout met his maker on that day and had he not tried to be some tough guy hero he may be alive today.
Everyone is missing the point. If Shives would of busted thru the door then I can see self defense, homeowner had no choice s to make had he entered. He chose to go out and confront travis with the gun instead of choosing to stay in and be safe and call 911. He made that choice therefore it was thought of before doing which in my opinion would make it premeditated. Everyone is so into blaming travis because he had a felony, does anyone know the shooter? He could be a 10 time felon for all anyone knows….people who pass judgement on people before knowing all the facts make me sick….so has everyone forgot to still find out who the shooter of the dog is because shooting someones dog instead of trying to talk to owner first should not be acceptable!
Fact is Shrive went looking for trouble and met his match, period. All he would have had to do was stay home, stay inside and call the police, let them investigate the shot dog. You just don’t go to another mans home and raise hell and expect nothing to happen. This went wrong from the time a pissed off Shrive went looking for trouble, had he just taken time to calm down and handle the situation rationally he would be alive today.
Silent night,
It doesn’t matter if the bullet matched Shive & the dog or not because using your theory of how Ritter should have stayed inside, Shive should have stayed home and called authorities also.
A previously wounded dog is a far different scenario than a trespassing aggressor lunging at a homeowner.
It’s just hearsay. But heard mr. Ritter is DEA. Is this the reason his name wasn’t released until now?? Is this “rumor” true?? Loss of life is sad. But if this is true, then everyone should understand why no charges were filed, on top of the clear “self defense” DISGUSTED!! Some kind of charge should have been given. Lewis county at its finest. Where you can shoot someone rather than stay in your home and call the police to handle the situation. Hmmmm…..guess coming outside and using your gun, when you were safe in your home is not required. You can simply slip out the back door with your gun and use it to kill someone!!! I would feel differently if Shive had broken into the home, and then was shot. Yes, he charged the man, yes he was at the wrong house (but DID THE BULLET PULKED OUT IF THE DOG MATCH THE BULLET IN THE DECEASED???) that question should be looked into and answered!! Maybe he wasn’t at the wrong house at all. What do others think????
Here we go again. In order to charge Mr. Ritter with any crime, the prosecutor will have to prove the absence of self defense beyond a reasonable doubt. With the evidence already provided, it would have been impossible. Worse for making any murder case, the jury has to look at the evidence from a subjective viewpoint. They have to see the situation as Mr. Ritter might have seen it. Then, once the jury decided not guilty by reason of self defense, the government would have to repay ALL of Mr. Ritter’s trial costs. That is the law in the state of Washington.
On the other hand, in a civil trial the standard is far lower. The family might have a chance in a wrongful death suit because the laws are written by trial attorneys out for a large cut of the big judgment. However, Mr. Ritter’s homeowner’s insurance will probably cover his legal costs. Given the facts of the case, they will either make a token offer of settlement right off, or they will fight it to the bitter end, and probably win.
One life lost. One changed forever.
Very tragic for everyone involved.
I wonder how many lawyers have already contacted the family and are trying to talk them into a wrongful death suit.
It’s a sad statement on our culture when such tragedies are seen by some as a get rich quick opportunity.
About time Meyer did something worth noting. perfect quote would be “play stupid games, win stupid prizes”.
Don’t be an aggressor when trespassing on someones property, property owner is armed and tells you to leave. If you want to charge a loaded gun then expect to be shot.
This should be a great lesson for all.
Oh boy. I wouldn’t have gone as filing murder charges because that should involve some malice aforethought as opposed to a simple overreaction (which could be successfully argued), but no charges at all? Not even manslaughter? I can’t go along with letting Mr. Ritter take someone’s life without ANY charges being filed. Whether Mr. Shive was as bad as some here have called him, I don’t believe his life was totally lacking any value.