Situation that ended in Port Angeles man’s death unclear, police say

PORT ANGELES — Police said Saturday that officers are in constant contact with the man said to have fatally shot Robert Fowler on Monday.

No arrests have been made.

Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said police are withholding making an arrest or identifying the man, who resides at 211 E. Vashon Ave. where Fowler, 63, was killed, until an investigation is completed.

Smith said the man told police he pulled the trigger. Authorities have not determined anything beyond that, Smith said.

“We’re not labeling it anything,” he said.

Whitepages.com lists the residents of the house as Bobby Smith and Janice Smith. A man at the home Thursday said Bobby Smith was not there.

Smith declined to say if police consider the man either a person of interest or a suspect.

“It’s hard to classify it,” he said.

“One [way to describe him] probably would be ‘person of interest.’ One would be ‘victim.’”

Smith said, when asked to clarify: “If a person does something and perceive they need to protect themselves, then they are a victim.”

Do police consider the man to be a victim or a person of interest?

“I’m not going to go there,” Smith said. “That’s way premature, and we’re not going to pass judgment.”

The deputy chief said police are aware of the man’s location and don’t consider him to be a flight risk.

Smith said they are withholding the name to protect the man’s safety and to avoid hindering the investigation.

________

Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.

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