UPDATE: Suspected prowler shot in La Center dies in hospital

La Center incident raises question of when shootings are justified

A man suspected of prowling around a La Center home early Tuesday died in the hospital after being shot by the homeowner, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office said.

The events began unfolding just after 12:30 a.m. when a man called 911 to report a prowler outside his home at 33506 N.W. 11th Court, off Pacific Highway. About two minutes later, the dispatcher was told the suspect was shot outside the home, according to dispatch logs.

Deputies arrived and found a man with a gunshot wound to the torso in the home’s driveway off a private, gravel road. Police provided medical aid until medics arrived.

The wounded man was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center where he later died, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office on Tuesday afternoon identified the suspected prowler as Barry Parnel, 29, of Vancouver-.

The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy and listed Parnel’s cause of death as a “shotgun wound to the chest and abdomen.”

The homeowner was identified as Leland Larsen, 59.

The shooting did not occur in the home, said Sgt. Fred Neiman, a sheriff’s office- spokesman.

Neiman and Detective Sgt. Kevin Allais with the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit said Tuesday night that they could not reveal whether Parnel had displayed a weapon.

Once the detectives complete their investigation, it will be sent to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office for review of whether Leland Larsen violated any laws.

That is standard in such cases, Neiman said.

County property records show the home is owned by Leland and Mary Larsen.

Neighbor Barbara Barnhart said she can see the Larsen’s home from her window. She was up at the time of the incident and heard an unusual bark from her dog. Barnhart brought the dog inside and heard two shots.

Then she got a call from Mary Larsen who was crying and said they had an intruder. Larsen told Barnhart to lock her doors, Barnhart said.

Larsen told Barnhart she was letting her dogs out from the bedroom door when she saw a “hulk of a man” in a black hood outside, Barnhart said. She screamed and closed the door, Barnhart said.

Barnhart isn’t sure what happened next.

Sheriff’s deputies conducted the investigation through the night.

The events shocked Barnhart. She hadn’t heard of any prowlers near her home before. On occasion, people will pass by trying to get down to the East Fork of the Lewis River, which passes by the Larsen’s home, Barnhart said, but they usually turn around when they find out it’s a private road.

The sheriff’s office Major Crimes Unit responded and is interviewing residents of the home and processing the scene for evidence.

It appears the suspect was not known by the homeowners, the sheriff’s office said.

Barry Parnel has a Facebook page listing -himself as a 2000 graduate of Evergreen High School.

No charges have been filed and no arrest had been made as of Tuesday night.