12/27/2004

Associated Press

A man sought for a double homicide in Washington and the murder of a Chemult two truck driver fatally shot himself early Monday, the Klamath County district attorney's office said.

The tow truck driver was identified as Marvin Erickson, 67, who had been shot several times.

State Police said an Oregon Department of Transportation worker found a car stuck in a snowstorm, noted the license number and called a tow truck. They said the driver of the car, Brian Pennington, 44, of Lacey, Wash., then reportedly shot the tow truck driver.

Lacey then drove to the parking lot of a restaurant where state police and Klamath County sheriff's deputies were assembling after learning that Pennington was wanted for homicides in Olympia, Wash.

Lacey drove behind the restaurant and shot himself in the chest, authorities said.