Woman suspected of shooting boyfriend arraigned

A Vancouver woman suspected of shooting her boyfriend in the face with a .22-caliber pellet rifle pleaded not guilty Friday to domestic violence-related charges.

Shari Lee Brown, 52, was arraigned in Clark County Superior Court on charges of first- and second-degree assault. The first-degree assault charge had been filed against Brown following her first court appearance last week. She is accused of shooting and seriously injuring John Bigley, 47, as he arrived home on a motorcycle the evening of April 19.

Clark County sheriff’s deputies were called about 5:30 p.m. by a neighbor who said Bigley came to his residence asking for help. Bigley was wounded, and allegedly told the neighbor that his girlfriend shot him in the face. He then collapsed, according to a probable cause affidavit filed in Superior Court.

Bigley and Brown lived together at 6803 N.E. 119th St., court documents said.

He was subsequently transported to a hospital, where deputies were unable to immediately interview him because he was intubated. A deputy observed an entry wound on his left cheek. Medical staff confirmed it was an entry wound and said a CT scan showed a pellet lodged in Bigley’s throat, according to court records.

Police tried to contact Brown, who was inside the couple’s residence, by using a bullhorn, but they got no response. A SWAT team and crisis negotiators arrived on scene. Nearby streets were closed, and residents were either evacuated or asked to stay in their homes, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

Brown eventually answered negotiators’ calls, removed the barricades from her front door and surrendered, the news release said.

In an interview with deputies, Brown allegedly said she and Bigley had been arguing during the day. Bigley left on his motorcycle, and she said when he returned home she shot him with the pellet rifle through a back window, court records said.

A weapon was recovered from the residence, and a detective found blood on a dirt bike parked nearby, according to court documents.

Brown’s trial is scheduled to start June 22.