A neighbor dispute in Salkum, Washington, ended with the death of 28-year-old Travis Shive on May 10, 2014. The conflict began after Shive’s black labrador, Tuff, was shot in the leg by an unknown person. Believing he knew who had shot the dog, Shive went to confront that person but arrived at the wrong house on the 200 block of Stowell Road.

Homeowner 56-year-old Jack Ritter says Shive was on his porch, shouting and pounding on the door. Ritter armed himself with a .380 semi-automatic handgun and later says he told Shive to leave. Witness accounts differ on whether Shive was walking away or lunged when Ritter came outside; a struggle reportedly ensued and Ritter shot Shive. An autopsy found Shive died of massive internal bleeding from a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was pronounced dead at Providence Centralia Hospital.

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office investigated and the case was forwarded to the Lewis County Prosecutor. Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer announced no charges against Ritter, concluding Ritter acted in self-defense and that Shive was the aggressor. Did anyone in the area see or hear anything about who might have shot the dog, Tuff, before May 10, 2014?