Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
One dead, WSU football player severely injured
COLFAX - George M. Harris III told Pullman police he was attacked before pulling a pistol and shooting a man and a Cougar football player.
Liban A. Barre, 23, of Kent, died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Washington State University (WSU) football player Brandon C. Gray, 22, of Detroit, was severely wounded and flown to Spokane on Sept. 25.
Harris, 23, of Pullman, was arrested and booked for assault in the second degree but has not been charged in Whitman County Superior Court.
"Charges are pending upon further investigation," stated a Whitman County Prosecutor's Office representative.
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."
Both Barre and Gray 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.
Harris was found by police near Barre. He allegedly told an officer her fired to "firing at least one shot," wrote a Pullman police officer.
A 9 mm Glock 19 pistol was found near Harris and Barre, which Harris reportedly identified as his. It contained an extended 25-round magazine, according to court records. A standard magazine holds 15 rounds.
While being interviewed, Harris told police "that he was jumped and he pulled out his concealed gun and began popping shots and they shot back ... (an officer) was not able to find out who 'they' were," wrote a Pullman police officer.
"Harris III had lacerations on his head and was bleeding from those lacerations," an officer reported.
The next morning, Harris turned himself in at the Pullman Police Department lobby. He declined to talk to the police and asked for an attorney.
Harris allegedly called his father and said he was jumped and that "he was 'shooting in the dark.'"
Police claim they later found Harris' car being driven by his roommates and in the car was the box for the Glock and extra loaded magazines.
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.
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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