PORT ANGELES — Bobby J. Smith is the man suspected of fatally shooting his neighbor last week, but police don’t yet know the circumstances of the shooting, Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher said Tuesday.
Police had not identified Smith, 58, as the man suspected of shooting Robert Fowler, 63, on June 20 until Tuesday.
Consideration of any charges that might be filed in the death will await results of a State Patrol Crime Lab investigation, which is expected to be completed July 12, Gallagher said.
“What we are currently investigating is the circumstances of that shooting,” Gallagher said.
“The facts have not been determined to an absolute degree,” he said, “and until we have in our possession the final report from the state crime lab, we will not have any comment on the circumstances in that case.”
Smith, who lives at 211 E. Vashon Ave., called Port Angeles police at 1:25 p.m. that day and told a 9-1-1 dispatcher that he had been involved in a shooting with a neighbor.
Neighbors confirmed that Fowler lived at 209 E. Vashon Ave., next door to the house where he was killed.
Police had said officers had been in constant contact with Smith since and do not consider him a flight risk.
Gallagher said determination of any charges in the case will be made after the state crime lab report is received.
“Once we have the state lab report, we will sit down with [Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney] Deb Kelly, who will make a determination on what, if any, charges to file,” Gallagher said.
The police chief said his department has been conferring with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office throughout the investigation.
Police have not identified Smith’s 20-year-old daughter, who also lived in the home at the time.
The case moved to a new phase of investigation Tuesday, Port Angeles Police Detective Cpl. Jason Viada said.
“Today, detectives finished processing and cataloguing evidence,” he said.
“There is a substantial quantity of evidence,” he said.
The sheer volume of evidence, plus the slow process, is part of the reason why there has been so little information released, he said.
“The investigation is still open and active,” Viada said.
“This case is a top priority,” he said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor/News Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3531 or leah.leach@peninsuladailynews.com.