Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
PULLMAN – One man died and a WSU Cougar wide receiver was injured during gunfire in Pullman on Sept. 25.
More than 200 people were at a party in the 1200 block of Northeast Myrtle Street in the College Hill area. Pullman police were arriving at 12:30 a.m. because of a complaint about the noise when "they reported hearing multiple gunshots."
Liban A. Barre, 23, of Kent, and Brandon C. Gray, 22, of Detroit, were found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds about a block from the party near the intersection of Williams Drive and Lybecker Road by McGee Park.
They were taken to Pullman Regional Hospital where Barre died. Gray was flown to a Spokane hospital.
"Police say it appears that the case is isolated to the individuals involved," stated Pullman police Commander Jake Opgenorth.
George M. Harris III, 23, turned himself in and was arrested for assault in the second degree "for his involvement in the shooting," stated police. He is claiming self-defense.
Barre was actively involved in the Somali-American community in south Seattle. A GoFundMe page was created to generate donations to perform charity projects in Barre's name.
"A 23-year-old son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to so many," wrote GoFundMe page organizer Abdulaziz Adam. "He was filled with compassion, love, ideas, and was also someone that wanted to make a difference in the world."
Gray is a Washington State University (WSU) wide receiver for the Cougars football team. Recruited from Cass Tech in Detroit, Gray played in three games in 2019 but didn't play in 2020 or this season.
"I know the Pullman community is hurting from the incident last night. One of our teammates was involved in that, Brandon Gray, and our thoughts and prayers are with him," WSU football Coach Nick Rolovich told media after the team lost to Utah.
Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Pullman police at 509-334-0802.
Bill Stevenson is the former editor of the Whitman County Gazette, Colfax Daily Bulletin and Franklin Connection. He has nearly 30 years of journalism experience covering news in Eastern Washington.
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