BRUSH PRAIRIE — The Clark County Sheriff’s Office has released more details, including the arrests of four individuals, in the death of Raymond Brandon.
Clark County Sheriff’s detectives with the Major Crimes unit have determined that on the morning of Thu., April 20, Neil Alway, Ashley Barry, John West and Ashley Wideman arrived at a residence located at 15208 NE 172nd Ave. in Brush Prairie.
Detectives believe the four hid inside the residence and awaited the arrival of Raymond Brandon and Allison Fields. When Brandon and Fields entered the home, they were confronted at gunpoint by Neil Alway. Alway ordered Brandon into the backyard of the residence.
Alway, accompanied by John West, marched Brandon out to the back yard where Brandon was assaulted and shot. Brandon was not seen alive again.
Following the shooting, Alway, West, Barry, Wideman and Fields immediately left the residence. Fields was held captive and feared for her personal safety. She remained with the four most of that day and managed to slip away from them that evening.
A Subaru Forrester, which had been driven by Brandon to the NE 172nd Ave. address, was taken by Alway following the incident. The Subaru was later recovered at a third party residence. Based on information received so far, the motive for the assault and murder was related to the Subaru, which may have been taken from the third party by Brandon.
During the arrest of Alway and Barry by Vancouver Police on April 25, Alway was found in possession of a handgun which may have been used in this incident.
Following the arrest of West, detectives were able to recover a second handgun, which was believed to have been taken from Raymond Brandon during the incident.
On Mon., May 8, members of the Clark County Tactical Detective Unit located West and Wideman in relation to the murder of Brandon. Both subjects were taken into custody without incident and booked into the Clark County Jail. Both subjects were scheduled to make first appearances on Tuesday.
West, 43, was arrested for Superior Court Warrant for Murder 1, Kidnapping 1, Robbery 1. Wideman, 23, was arrested for Kidnapping 1.
Brandon was found deceased in a shed on the Brush Prairie property on April 27. Detectives determined that Raymond had been shot in the shed about a week earlier. During the investigation, detectives developed probable cause to arrest Alway and Barry on the described crimes. Both were already being housed in the Clark County Jail on unrelated charges.
Alway, 39, was booked on Murder in the first degree, Robbery in the first degree, and Kidnapping in the first degree. Barry, 31, was booked on Kidnapping in the first degree, and Robbery in the first degree. Both are Clark County residents.
Information provided by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
