PORT ANGELES — A first-degree murder charge is expected to be filed against a Port Angeles man in the shooting death of Gerald David “Jerry” Howell.
Gary Carl Borneman, 39, remained in police custody Thursday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after surgery Wednesday for severe hand injuries, Port Angeles Police Sgt. Barb McFall said.
First-degree murder and related charges are expected to be filed by the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office this week, she said.
When Borneman is released from the hospital, he will be returned to Port Angeles and booked into the Clallam County jail, she said.
An autopsy of Howell was complete as of Thursday afternoon, McFall said. But the report was not immediately available.
Howell, 40, of Port Angeles was killed Tuesday evening at his home at 130 W. 11th St.
He was a pipefitter, welder and machinist at Vigor Marine, previously known as Strait Marine, in Port Angeles.
Police found Howell’s body at about 7:15 p.m. after Rebecca Messinger, 31, who lived at the 11th Street house, called 9-1-1 at 7:10 p.m. to report that she had been kidnapped.
Messinger was calling from a location near the home and was not at the house when police arrived, McFall said.
Messinger was not injured, McFall added.
Police found Borneman in front of the residence armed with a handgun and with bleeding hands.
McFall said Wednesday it is believed it happened during “a close-quarters battle of some kind.”
The back door of the residence had been kicked in, and Howell’s body was found inside.
A shotgun was found inside the home.
Messinger was living in the home as Howell’s girlfriend, and it was unclear how her report of an attempted kidnapping was related to the shooting.
She has a domestic violence protection order against Borneman, who is a former boyfriend, that forbids him from making contact with her.
At least one child also lives in Howell’s home, but the child was not there at the time of the shooting, McFall said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
