Three people are dead and one is in critical condition following a string of Saturday shootings in Moscow.
Moscow Police Chief David Duke said the suspected shooter has been identified as Moscow resident John Lee, 29.
Amber Emery | Argonaut
Police responded to a report of a shooting at Arby’s in Moscow. Belinda Niebuhr, a manager, was pronounced dead.
The deceased victims include David Trail, 76; Belinda Niebuhr, 47; and Terri Grzebielski, 61. All victims were Moscow residents. An additional victim, Michael Chin, 39, of Seattle, is in critical condition at Gritman Medical Center from gunshot wounds to his left leg and arm.
“We believe Mr. Lee is responsible for all of the deaths,” Duke said.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at 2:31 p.m. Saturday at 303 E. Third St. in Moscow. Police arrived at the scene to find Trail and Chin injured from gunshot wounds.
Trail was transported to Pullman Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Trail owned the apartment complex where he was shot, and police believe Chin did not know any of the other victims or the shooter. Duke said Chin was taking care of rental business with Trail when Lee arrived.
Duke said they believe Lee also shot his mother, Grzebielski, prior to shooting Trail and Chin. Grzebielski was found dead in her home on Veatch Street in Moscow. Grzebielski was a physician’s assistant with Moscow Family Medicine and Lee’s adoptive mother.
While police were responding to the first call, they received a second report of a shooting in Moscow, with the suspect matching the description of the first shooting.
Police responded to Arby’s located at 150 Peterson Drive where Duke said Lee entered and asked to speak with the manager. Duke said Lee then took out a handgun and shot Niebuhr.
Duke said Lee then fled the scene and crossed the Idaho-Washington border in a black Honda. Pullman police tried to stop the vehicle and a pursuit ensued.
Around 3:20 p.m., police said Lee crashed into a ditch north of Colfax, where Whitman County officials took him into custody and he was booked at Whitman County Jail.
Duke said Moscow Police are working to obtain a warrant in order to extradite Lee to Moscow.
Police continue to investigate the relationship between Lee and the victims.