In the small town of Prescott, Washington, a dispute between neighbors escalated into a fatal encounter on the afternoon of October 23, 2024. Ronald D. Evans Jr., a 41-year-old male, was shot and killed in an incident that shattered the quiet of the 200 block of East Third Street.
Around 1:30 p.m., the Walla Walla County Sheriff's Office received reports of gunfire. When deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered Evans suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of first responders, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting pointed to a verbal altercation between Evans and his neighbor, which had tragically turned violent. A witness reported seeing the neighbor brandish a semi-automatic handgun, point it at Evans, and fire twice. The witness then heard a third gunshot after running inside to call 911.
Authorities swiftly took a suspect into custody. The suspect, identified as Troy Mitchell Rathbun, 62, admitted to detectives that he had ongoing issues with Evans for months. He claimed that on the day of the shooting, he "lost it" after confronting Evans about allegedly vandalizing his vehicles. Rathbun was arrested and subsequently booked into the Walla Walla County Jail. He faces charges of second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. Law enforcement officials have stated that they believe there is no further threat to the public in relation to this incident as their investigation continues.
