PLAIN, Wash. — A 20-year-old man faces first-degree assault charges after a shooting incident at the Plain Grocery Store parking lot left a 71-year-old man with severe leg injuries.
Deputies responded on Sept. 20 at approximately 2:22 p.m. following a shooting report. Russell E. McClees was riding his motorcycle northbound on Chumstick Highway when he encountered Benjamin W. Barke, who was driving a pickup truck. The two men’s initial encounter escalated into a physical altercation in the grocery store parking lot.
Barke produced a handgun and pointed it at McClees. As Barke attempted to knock over McClees’ motorcycle, he dropped the weapon. McClees retrieved the handgun and moved away from Barke, who continued advancing to recover the firearm. McClees then fired one round, striking Barke in the left thigh.
McClees called 911 and obtained a belt from inside the grocery store to fashion a tourniquet to control Barke’s bleeding. He remained at the scene until law enforcement arrived.
Barke was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for specialized care due to the severity of his injury.
Detectives charged McClees with Assault in the First Degree and Barke with Assault in the Second Degree. McClees was booked into the Chelan County Regional Jail, and Barke’s charges were referred to the Chelan County Prosecutors Office.
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