Vancouver man accused of shooting older brother with BB gun

A Vancouver man is accused of shooting his older brother with a BB gun during an argument over a drum Tuesday afternoon at a residence in east Vancouver.

Norman M. Redthunder, 55, appeared Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree domestic violence assault, attempting to elude and tampering with physical evidence.

Judge Jennifer Snider set Redthunder’s bail at $75,000. He is set to be arraigned May 18, court records show.

Police were dispatched for a reported disturbance with a weapon at a residence in the 3000 block of Northeast 135th Avenue. Officers were advised that a man had been shot in the head, and the suspect had fled on a motorcycle, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The victim was found in the front yard bleeding from his head, face and arm. He told police his brother, Redthunder, shot him multiple times with a BB gun following an argument over a drum. The 59-year-old man was taken by ambulance to a hospital, the affidavit says.

Redthunder’s girlfriend, who witnessed some of the incident, told police the brothers were arguing over who would inherit a drum belonging to their recently deceased father. She said the victim, at one point, had a pole and piece of wood and struck Redthunder with one of the items, court records state.

She said she heard Redthunder say he had a BB gun and would shoot his brother, who replied, “I dare you.” She then heard multiple shots, and Redthunder fled from the house on his motorcycle, according to the affidavit.

A neighbor told police they saw Redthunder fleeing with a handgun. Responding officers chased Redthunder, who sped off and drove recklessly to evade capture, the affidavit says.

After his arrest, Redthunder allegedly admitted to shooting his brother after “egging” him on, fleeing from officers and hiding the BB gun from police in the fireplace, “knowing he was in trouble for using it,” court records state.