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Sequim shooting suspect was under community supervision

05:31 PM PDT on Sunday, September 21, 2008

By KING Staff and Associated Press

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SEQUIM, Wash. - The Department of Corrections says a man suspected in the shooting deaths of two people in Clallam County Saturday was under community supervision for a malicious mischief conviction.

The DOC said the officer who was supervising Shawn M. Roe, 36, had requested an arrest warrant on Sept. 10 because Roe had failed to check in, but the warrant had not yet been issued by the court.

Roe is suspected in the death of U.S. Forest Service officer Kris Fairbanks and the owner of a pickup truck he was driving, the State Patrol said.

After a manhunt that included local, state and federal agencies, Roe was fatally shot by a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputy Saturday night.

The crime spree started at about 2:40 p.m. Saturday on Forest Service Road 2880 outside of Sequim.

Fairbanks, 51, a certified canine officer with 15 years in the forest service, was checking on a van that didn't have license plates. She ran some data through State Patrol dispatch, but then didn't respond to any calls.

Deputies and state troopers responded to that area and found the officer dead and the van was gone.

Authorities found the van about 6:30 p.m., abandoned not far away in a densely wooded area.

"We did a reverse 911 call to alert all the residents in that area to be on the lookout for this person and report it if they saw him," said Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict.

At 9:30 p.m., a security guard at the Longhouse Market and Deli near the Seven Cedars Casino on U.S. Highway 101 east of Sequim alerted sheriff's deputies that a man meeting the suspect's description was in the convenience store.

KING

Shawn Roe was fatally shot by a Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputy Saturday night.

Two deputies arrived and told the suspect to put up his hands as he came out of the store, but he drew at least one handgun and fired at least once before both deputies opened fire, killing Roe. Neither deputy was hit.

Hedstrom said Roe was carrying with two modern handguns and an older six-shooter when he died.

Investigators checked the registration of a white pickup Roe was seen driving when he arrived at the store, went to the house of the registered owner, located between the store and the campground, and found the body of a man who had been shot, Hedstrom said. His identity has not yet been released.

Roe was a convicted felon with "an active criminal history." He was convicted in 2007 of unlawful imprisonment, a felony, and malicious mischief, a gross misdemeanor, Lewis said.

In September 2006, Roe's ex-wife, Mary Catherine Roe, carried a gun to her teaching job at Nisqually Middle School in Lacey because she said she was afraid of her ex-husband and he had threatened her with a gun. She had a domestic-violence protection order against him, The Olympian newspaper reported.

Mary Catherine Roe said she carried the gun for about a month, but later resigned from her position as a language arts teacher.

Shawn Roe was arrested July 21 in Mason County for failing to report to his probation officer and for consuming alcohol. He was sent to jail for 60 days, 30 of which were spent on electronic home monitoring, according to the Department of Corrections.

Roe finished this jail sentence on Aug. 10 and reported the next day to his community corrections officer. A corrections official said he wasn't sure why Roe was released early from the Mason County Jail.

Shock and sadness

USFS

Kristine Fairbanks and her canine partner, Radar.

Forest Service officer Kris Fairbanks leaves behind a 15-year-old daughter and her husband, who is a Departmetn of Fish and Wildlife officer.

U.S. Forest Service officials expressed shock and sadness over the death.

"She was professional, she was thorough, she was well-trained, capable, and she was a friend to a lot of people," said Cpt. Christine Lynch of the U.S. Forest Service.

"This terrible tragedy affects not only the close-knit communities of the Forest Service and law enforcement agencies, but all of us in the Northwest who depend on brave people such as Kristine to stand between us and harm," said Cal Joyner, acting Pacific Northwest Regional Forester. "Those who risk their lives for the rest of us deserve a special moment of thanks today."

Gov. Chris Gregoire issued a statement, saying "This terrible tragedy brings sadness to my heart. On behalf of all Washingtonians, I want to express my deepest sympathy for the fallen officer's family, friends and the law enforcement community."

"Losing an officer is the most difficult burden our law enforcement community can bear. They serve us on the front lines, and as Washingtonians we owe them our sincerest gratitude, support and comfort today and every day. This senseless act seems to have included another innocent victim. Our thoughts and prayers are also with his loved ones and colleagues."

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