(WA) Two cases of domestic self-defense 12-04-01
Wife shoots LaCenter man in self-defense, detectives say
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12/04/01
JOHN PAINTER JR.
VANCOUVER — A LaCenter-area man was shot to death Sunday night by his
wife after he broke down a bedroom door in an attempt to continue
beating her, Clark County sheriff’s detectives said.
Craig R. Swenson, 59, died at the scene from a gunshot to his chest,
Detective Pat St. John said Monday.
He said Swenson had physically assaulted his wife, Cheryl, 55, and she
had run into the master bedroom of their home in the 1400 block of
Northeast 389th Street and locked the door.
Swenson broke down the door and was advancing on his wife, threatening
to continue the beating, when she fired a shot from a .357- caliber
Magnum handgun, St. John said.
The violent death is the second involving family members in Clark County
in the past week.
On Nov. 27, Omar H. Malone, 19, was shot dead in his family’s
Lakeshore-area home. Sheriff’s investigators said it appeared he
attacked his sleeping father with a shovel.
During the ensuing fight between the two, the younger Malone was shot
once in the head, officials said.
Burl Malone suffered head and lung injuries.
In Sunday’s shooting, sheriff’s deputies and LaCenter and Ridgefield
police arrived at the Swenson home northeast of LaCenter at 6:15 p.m.,
investigators said. The couple moved to the area about two years ago
from the Hillsboro area.
Cheryl Swenson told authorities her husband “had a history of beating
her,” St. John said.
“She said that she wouldn’t call 9-1-1, but would get away from him and
stay away until he cooled down.” He said they had been married 20 years.
Authorities say the situation appears to be a case of self-defense. St.
John said no arrest is anticipated. However, after the investigation is
complete, the file will be sent to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office
for review.
