http://www.komotv.com/stories/43623.htm
Washington State:
ISSAQUAH - The Issaquah man who claims he shot a black bear in self-defense near his home Monday night is now under investigation by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for hunting a bear out of season.
King County Sheriff's deputies, officers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served a search warrant Wednesday at Aaron Enright's home in the rural High Point neighborhood near Issaquah.
They seized the 10-gauge shotgun he used to shoot the bear, a .22-caliber rifle and .22-caliber ammunition. The search warrant indicates they are seeking evidence that would support a charge of "Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree" and "Unlawful Hunt Big Game 2nd Degree: Closed Bear Season."
"It's complete insanity," Enright told us Thursday night.
Enright says that on Monday he thought his black labrador retriever was at his back door so he opened the door to let it in. Instead he stood face to face with a black bear.
He says he backed away from the door and reached for his shotgun, that the bear backed up about 10 feet from the door, then made a move as if it was going to charge at him.
"I'm tracking it and then it turns and I shoot it," said Enright, showing us where he says he stood in his own kitchen when he fired the single shot through the open door. "It turned left and took one step and I shot it."
After the encounter Enright called for help and a Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist tracked the bear to a tree about 100 yards into the woods. That wildlife biologist shot the bear a second time and killed it.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Dan Christensen now officially questions whether Enright was in imminent danger when he shot the bear. He is the officer who sought the search warrant and pursuit of charges against Enright. KOMO 4 News was not able to reach Christensen for comment Thursday night.
Enright was convicted of felony burglary 24 years ago when he was 17 years old. That is the basis for the "unlawful possession of a firearm" accusation.
Enright's record shows that in 1983 he received a three-year deferred sentence. He claims he has since passed background checks to own the shotgun and the rifle that were seized by investigators on Wednesday.
Enright has not at this point been charged with any crime. That will be up to prosecutors to decide.
Washington State:
ISSAQUAH - The Issaquah man who claims he shot a black bear in self-defense near his home Monday night is now under investigation by the Department of Fish and Wildlife for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for hunting a bear out of season.
King County Sheriff's deputies, officers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms served a search warrant Wednesday at Aaron Enright's home in the rural High Point neighborhood near Issaquah.
They seized the 10-gauge shotgun he used to shoot the bear, a .22-caliber rifle and .22-caliber ammunition. The search warrant indicates they are seeking evidence that would support a charge of "Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the First Degree" and "Unlawful Hunt Big Game 2nd Degree: Closed Bear Season."
"It's complete insanity," Enright told us Thursday night.
Enright says that on Monday he thought his black labrador retriever was at his back door so he opened the door to let it in. Instead he stood face to face with a black bear.
He says he backed away from the door and reached for his shotgun, that the bear backed up about 10 feet from the door, then made a move as if it was going to charge at him.
"I'm tracking it and then it turns and I shoot it," said Enright, showing us where he says he stood in his own kitchen when he fired the single shot through the open door. "It turned left and took one step and I shot it."
After the encounter Enright called for help and a Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist tracked the bear to a tree about 100 yards into the woods. That wildlife biologist shot the bear a second time and killed it.
Fish and Wildlife Officer Dan Christensen now officially questions whether Enright was in imminent danger when he shot the bear. He is the officer who sought the search warrant and pursuit of charges against Enright. KOMO 4 News was not able to reach Christensen for comment Thursday night.
Enright was convicted of felony burglary 24 years ago when he was 17 years old. That is the basis for the "unlawful possession of a firearm" accusation.
Enright's record shows that in 1983 he received a three-year deferred sentence. He claims he has since passed background checks to own the shotgun and the rifle that were seized by investigators on Wednesday.
Enright has not at this point been charged with any crime. That will be up to prosecutors to decide.
