Ronald A. Brady speaks with his lawyer Don Blair Tuesday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A judge ordered Ronald A. Brady yesterday to turn in all his firearms to the sheriff’s office.
The Onalaska man appeared in Lewis County Superior Court on felony charges, six months after he reportedly opened fire on two suspected burglars at his Onalaska house killing one of them.
Brady, 60, is charged with first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault for the events that left 56-year-old Thomas McKenzie of Morton dead outside Brady’s house. McKenzie’s wife, Joanna McKenzie, 32, escaped uninjured.
Brady said very little in court yesterday, as his attorney Don Blair addressed bail for his client.
“Mr. Brady is 60 years old, he’s lived in Lewis County for 20 years,” Blair told the judge. “It’s been six months since the occurrence; if he wanted to he could have moved to Costa Rica – if he had a passport.”
Judge James Lawler ordered a $50,000 unsecured appearance bond. Among the conditions of release pending the outcome of the case was that Brady cannot possess any firearms.
According to charging documents, Brady admitted shooting at the pair outside his house he was renovating on the 2100 block of state Route 508, describing to deputies opening his garage door and finding two flashlights shined in his face.
He told sheriff’s detectives he was staying overnight at the house in case burglars from earlier in the day returned. Brady resides in a nearby rental home.
Thomas McKenzie died from a gunshot wound to his chest and leaves behind nine children and other family members.
Brady’s neighbors, Jack and Sharon Tipping, were in the Chehalis courtroom to show support for their neighbor and tenant.
Brady began renting from them almost 15 years ago after his house burned down and has resided alone as he has been rebuilding his house, the couple said.
“He’s a friendly enough guy, not outgoing, a bit of a recluse,” Jack Tipping said after the brief hearing. “He’s a good neighbor, he’s a fine upstanding person. I think it’ just an unfortunate thing that happened.”
Jack Tipping said Brady phoned him the night it happened to let him know why there were flashing lights and police cars at his house.
Brady’s home had been broken into before, as has the Tippings, the couple said.
“We’ve all been burglarized before and people don’t have a lot of sympathy for burglars, my self included,” Jack Tipping said.
Brady is scheduled to return to court for his arraignment on Oct. 21.
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This news story was updated at 9:55 a.m. on Wednesday Oct. 13, 2010
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For more of the details of what prosecutors allege happened, read the Sept. 24, 2010 story “Onalaska man charged in April’s fatal shooting of suspected burglar” here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter