Ralph Reeves

Mass Murderer

Ralph Reeves and the 2003 Stateline Bar Massacre

Overview

On October 24, 2003, Ralph Reeves carried out a deadly shooting inside the Stateline Bar at 313 North State Avenue in Oldtown, Idaho. Reeves, who was approximately 53 years old, entered the small tavern during the afternoon and fatally shot four people. The victims were Chester W. Cavaliere, Henry "Hank" Franklin Shumake, LeRoy G. Wiese, and Reeves's former girlfriend, Tiki Danielle Wiese. The killings began at approximately 3:30 p.m. and were believed to have developed from a personal dispute between Reeves and Tiki Wiese. After opening fire inside the bar, Reeves fled the scene and crossed into neighboring Washington. Law-enforcement agencies in both states launched a search for him. Later that night, as deputies approached his vehicle in Pend Oreille County, Washington, Reeves died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Ralph Reeves

Ralph Reeves was described as a military veteran who had one child. At the time of the massacre, reports indicated that he had been living out of his vehicle and had recently spoken about suicide to people who knew him. His unstable circumstances and his troubled relationship with Tiki Wiese became important parts of the investigation into what led to the shooting. Authorities believed Reeves entered the Stateline Bar with a semiautomatic handgun and with the intention of confronting Tiki. The available evidence indicated that the attack was not a robbery, an attempted theft, or a random act committed against strangers. Investigators instead described the shooting as an act of personal retaliation connected to Reeves's former relationship.

The Stateline Bar

The Stateline Bar, sometimes referred to as the Stateline Tavern, was located in Oldtown, a small Bonner County community positioned directly along the Idaho-Washington border. Oldtown had a population of only about 200 people at the time and stood immediately beside Newport, Washington. Spokane was approximately 50 miles to the south. The tavern was a familiar local gathering place where residents met for drinks and conversation. Its location near the state line became significant after the massacre because Reeves was able to leave Idaho and enter Washington within a short period of time. The shooting brought a major multi-agency police response to a community that rarely experienced violence on such a scale. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Chester W. Cavaliere 62 yr old Male

Four people killed in Idaho bar shooting; suspect kills self