On 2-7-2023 at approximately 9:09 P.M. Klickitat County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a domestic violence call involving gunshots being fired at 1110 Loganberry Lane in White Salmon. The 911 Dispatch further advised Deputies and other responding law enforcement officers there was a victim with a gunshot wound.
Dispatch informed responding law enforcement officers that the gunshot victim, Wayne Petersen, age 69, was transported to Skyline Hospital by the shooting suspect, Rick Regan Petersen, age 67, who is the brother to the victim.
Bingen-White Salmon Police Department Officer Frank Randall along with two Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Will Helton and Brandon Van Pelt made contact with the suspect Rick R. Petersen at Skyline Hospital. A short time later Klickitat County Sheriff’s Deputies Tony Warren and Cody Melton also arrived at Skyline Hospital to conduct the investigation.
After obtaining preliminary information, Officer Frank Randall went to the residence at 1110 Loganberry Lane to assist other Skamania County Deputies, who had already secured the crime scene.
KCSO Deputy Chance Leroue also went to the crime scene to preserve evidence and interview witnesses, until a Klickitat County Detective could arrive and take over the investigation. A short time later a Klickitat County Sheriff’s Detective arrived at the crime scene and took over the investigation.
It appears that Wayne Petersen and his wife had gotten into an argument, and the wife left their residence and went over to her brother-in-law’s, Rick Petersen and his wife to get away from Wayne. A short time later Wayne Petersen showed up at his brother’s house located at 1110 Loganberry Lane to get his wife. It appears a verbal argument, then a physical struggle ensued after which Rick Petersen obtained a firearm from a gun safe and shot Wayne.
Deputy Cody Melton placed Rick Petersen under arrest for Assault 1st Degree and transported him to the Klickitat County Jail for booking.
Wayne Petersen was transported by Life Flight from Skyline Hospital to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where he is recovering from his gunshot wound.
On 2-8-2023 Prosecuting Attorney David Quesnel had Rick R. Petersen released from jail with no charges filed at this time pending further investigation.
The investigation is continuing at this time by the Klickitat County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division.
Sheriff Songer wants to thank the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department, Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Deputies, Washington State Patrol Troopers, Klickitat County 911 Dispatchers, Skyline Hospital medical staff for assisting the Klickitat County Deputies and Detective with this Domestic Violence shooting incident.
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