Bail set for Moscow shooting suspect in Whitman
January 13, 2015
Moscow resident John Lee was charged with alluding arrest Monday at the Whitman County courthouse.
The 29-year-old man is suspected of killing three and injuring one in a shooting that took place Saturday afternoon in Moscow.
Whitman County Judge David Frazier set Lee’s bail at $500,000 per recommendation of prosecuting attorney, Denis Tracy. Tracy stated that, considering Lee had already tried eluding the police, there was enough probable cause to believe that Lee would not show up to following court dates.
After the shootings, Lee fled Moscow in a black Honda toward Washington. Pullman Police identified the vehicle near Pullman and attempted to stop the vehicle. Lee ignored the police, and a high-speed pursuit ensued.
“It is frankly a miracle that no one was killed in this chase,” Tracy said.
Lee now has three arrest warrants in Idaho for first degree murder and one for first degree attempted murder. He will face these charges in Idaho once he has finished legal proceedings in Washington for the felony of eluding arrest.
“I intend to keep him here while we resolve our local charges,” Tracy said.
Given the multiple warrants out for his arrest, Lee will be extradited to Idaho once the Washington charges are concluded. The Governor of Idaho, C.L. “Butch” Otter, will send a formal writ of extradition to Governor Inslee, given that Lee does not waive his right of extradition.
Tracy said the extradition process has already begun and could happen within two to three months after the local charges are resolved.
Lee’s arraignment hearing will be at Whitman County courthouse in Colfax at 3:30 p.m. this Friday.
Reporting by Matthew Brunstetter