Suspected intruder dies in Kent confrontation

Kent

A suspected intruder was fatally shot Saturday, apparently by a homeowner in Kent's East Hill neighborhood.

Lt. Bruce Weissich, Kent police spokesman, said a preliminary investigation indicates a resident of the 10600 block of Southeast 260th Street returned home about 6 p.m. to discover someone inside his home.

Weissich said a confrontation ensued, with multiple shots being fired. Police released no details about the suspected intruder, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yorkville, Ill.

Murder defendant is policy beneficiary

A former Sammamish man charged with fatally shooting his wife and children was the beneficiary listed on her $1 million life-insurance policy, according to testimony at an estate hearing.

Christopher Vaughn, 33, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his wife, Kimberly, and the couple's three young children. Authorities found their bodies June 14 in the family's sport-utility vehicle parked on a service road about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. The family resided in Sammamish until a couple of years ago.

Vaughn was to receive $1 million from a life-insurance policy on his wife, according to Friday's testimony in Kendall County civil court. But Illinois law has prevented him from collecting the assets.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Vaughn.

Seattle, Lynnwood

2 centers opened to aid storm victims

Two disaster-recovery centers have been opened in Lynnwood and Seattle, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The centers are in designated counties that suffered from the series of storms earlier this month.

One center is at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way, main building.

The Snohomish County center is at the former Longs drug center, 3815 196th Ave S.W., Suite 109, Lynnwood.

Port Townsend

Newer vessel will be on run next month

Riders on the new Keystone-to-Port Townsend ferry will get a fancier boat than they might have expected when service begins next month.

At first, Washington State Ferries said it was leasing an older Pierce County boat for the route, the Christine Anderson. But now, it said, it's getting the newer Steilacoom II.

The new boat handles better in bad weather, and it's a version of a boat the state hopes to build to replace the Steel Electric ferries used on the route until they were pulled from service last month, said ferry spokeswoman Marta Coursey.

Pierce County has agreed to lease the boat to the state for 60 days, with a possible extension. The price of the lease hasn't been determined.

Mount Vernon

Collision kills 80-year-old man

A Mount Vernon man died in a two-car accident Friday in Skagit County.

According to the Washington State Patrol, Byron Pound, 80, died after the car he was driving collided with another vehicle driven by Espino Yanez Andres, 21, who was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Vancouver, Wash.

Warrant issued after triple killing

An arrest warrant has been issued for a man police in Vancouver say is connected to last week's triple slaying.

Police are looking for Benjamin Vasquez-Salamanca, 27, who is charged with murder in a Clark County Superior Court warrant.

Police say Vasquez-Salamanca is considered extremely dangerous. Anybody who sees him should call 911.

Louise Infante-Ramirez, 25, and Cesar Nunez-Ortiz, 20, both died of their injuries, as did a third victim whose name has not been released. The fourth victim is hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Vasquez-Salamanca has an outstanding dangerous-drug warrant for his arrest originating from Multnomah County, Ore.

Times staff and news services