Lewis County Sirens.com

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating apparent murder, suicide north of Winlock

Updated at 12:26 p.m.

By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 59-year-old man allegedly fatally shot his younger brother and then turned a gun on himself in rural Winlock.

The events at the 600 block of Tennessee Road began earlier yesterday afternoon when a 64-year-old woman went out to drop chlorine into a well, the floorboards broke loose and she fell into the well, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies and aid called about 4:15 p.m. were working to rescue the woman, when her 59-year-old brother was asked to leave because he was being disruptive, Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said. The two brothers had been arguing, he said.

The woman was retrieved from approximately 50 feet down inside the hand dug well where she had been trapped by collapsing debris and was transported to the hospital, the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies were called back to the property at about 6:30 p.m., when witnesses said the 59-year-old man had returned and discharged a handgun multiple times, striking and killing his 56-year-old brother, according to Breen.

Witnesses said the 59-year-old then shot himself, Breen said. He is from Malone. His younger brother is from Winlock.

Breen said the sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation and he expects the names of the brothers will be released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office.

Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter

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