In the small town of Kamiah, Idaho, a tragic event unfolded on the evening of July 19, 2021, at the Sundown Motel, resulting in the deaths of three people. Chip Brooks, a 57-year-old man, was one of the victims in what law enforcement later described as a double homicide and suicide. The incident, which shattered the peace of the quiet community, involved two victims and one perpetrator, all of whom were residents of the motel.
According to the Lewis County Sheriff's Office, the shooter
was identified as 71-year-old Ronald Port. For reasons that have not been publicly detailed, Port engaged in a violent rampage. Witnesses reported that the incident began with Port firing into a vehicle that belonged to one of the victims. The violence then escalated as Port shot and killed Chip Brooks and another resident, 31-year-old Maden McAnear. The shootings occurred in or near the motel rooms where the victims were staying.
The motive behind the tragic actions of Ronald Port remains unclear, though it was reported that the three individuals were acquainted with one another. Following the initial gunshots, law enforcement was dispatched to the scene. Upon the arrival of deputies from the Lewis County Sheriff's Office, Port took his own life. The investigation concluded that there was no ongoing threat to the public, as the perpetrator was among the deceased. No arrests were made as the sole suspect was deceased at the scene.
The small community of Kamiah was left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of two of its residents. The Lewis County Sheriff, Jason Davis, described the incident as "exceptionally tragic for all involved" and extended prayers to those impacted by the event. The investigation, which was assisted by the Idaho State Police, confirmed the identities of the victims and the shooter, bringing a somber closure to the horrific event.
