In brief: Man faces higher charge of first-degree murder

Edward Bushnell, the man accused of fatally shooting William Poindexter in East Central Spokane on July 21, now faces a first-degree murder charge.

Bushnell, 27, was arrested immediately after the shooting and initially was charged with second-degree murder.

According to court documents, Bushnell told police he was walking down the street and saw Poindexter grab a woman and throw her around. He told police he intervened and fought with Poindexter, then shot him three times in the back as Poindexter and the woman walked away, court records say.

Bushnell appeared in court on the new charge Tuesday afternoon. His bond was reduced from $500,000 to $300,000.

Rachel Alexander

Officers identified in man’s shooting death

Authorities have named the three North Idaho police officers involved in last week’s confrontation with an armed Sandpoint man that ended with a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing the man.

Casey George Alarcon, 34, died Aug. 11 after he allegedly fired two shots at the officers. They were identified Tuesday as Sandpoint police Officer Jeremy Inman and Bonner County sheriff’s Deputies Aaron Walker and Tyler Jinright. All three are on paid administrative leave during the investigation, which is being conducted by the Region One Critical Incident Response Team with the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office as the lead agency.

Detectives have not said which deputy fired the single shot that killed Alarcon.

Two of the three officers received minor injuries. None was struck by bullets.

The officers were in the 1000 block of Ruth Avenue of Sandpoint attempting to serve an arrest warrant when Alarcon confronted them and fired two shots, investigators said.

Scott Maben

Semitruck driver has fatal heart attack

The driver of a semitruck was found dead in his cab just after noon Tuesday on Interstate 90, the Washington State Patrol said.

Kenneth Burch, 65, died of a heart attack, according to a news release. The St. Maries resident was entering the highway from Medical Lake Road, about 8 miles west of Spokane, when he left the road and struck a fence, according to the WSP.

When aid arrived, Burch was pronounced dead.

Kip Hill