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Originally published Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:00 AM

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Security video shows last moments of murder suspect Roe's life

A security video released by police Tuesday shows the last moments of murder suspect Shawn Roe's life before he was killed Saturday in a shootout with sheriff's deputies in Clallam County.

Seattle Times staff reporter

A security video released by police Tuesday shows the last moments of murder suspect Shawn Roe's life before he was killed Saturday in a shootout with sheriff's deputies in Clallam County.

On the video, Roe is shown entering and purchasing items at the Longhouse Market and Deli on Highway 101 in Blyn. As Roe is seen leaving the store, he appears to examine a wanted poster bearing his photograph that had been taped to the store's counter.

State Patrol investigator Brian George, who discussed the video during a news conference Tuesday in Port Angeles, credited a security officer from the nearby 7 Cedars Casino, who spotted Roe based upon a flier issued to help track him down. The officer alerted deputies.

Alerted to Roe's presence at the store, sheriff's deputies were waiting for him as he exited. Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said the deputies shot and killed Roe when he opened fire on them outside the store. Grainy images of the encounter are seen on video surveillance filmed outside the store.

Benedict said deputies Matt Murphy and Andrew Wagner acted appropriately. The deputies returned fire after Roe fired at least one shot, Benedict said.

"That was a textbook way to confront an armed and dangerous person," Benedict said on Tuesday.

Roe, 36, is suspected of killing U.S. Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks after she pulled him over on a remote road near Sequim when she spotted Roe driving a van without license plates, authorities said.

After killing the 51-year-old officer, Roe took her gun and drove into a wooded area nearby, authorities say. He then apparently walked to a nearby home under construction and killed owner Richard Ziegler, 59.

After killing Ziegler, Roe took Zeigler's pickup, authorities said.

Investigators have not determined Roe's motive to kill Fairbanks and Ziegler, two people he didn't know, authorities said.

For years Roe threatened and terrified his ex-wife and her family.

Mary Catherine White, who separated from Roe in 2006, blamed an addiction to OxyContin and alcohol for his behavior change. She said that when they married in 1998 he didn't show signs of rage.

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"When I realized the fight was futile, it was time to leave," said White, who lives in Olympia. "I was his possession; he had to be in control of everything."

White said the couple have an 8-year-old daughter. White said she and her parents told the girl about the Sequim-area shootings and Roe's death.

"She's very angry at him for the choices he made. Every little girl wants to see their dad, and for the last two years she hadn't seen him," White said.

In 2007, Roe was convicted of unlawful imprisonment, a felony, and malicious mischief, a gross misdemeanor, in Mason County. That conviction stemmed from an incident on Aug. 5, 2006, when he refused to let his wife leave during a fight at their home.

Roe was arrested July 21 for violating his probation by failing to report to his probation officer and consuming alcohol. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 30 of which were spent outside of lockup on electronic home monitoring, according to the state Department of Corrections (DOC).

The DOC requested an arrest warrant for Roe on Aug. 29 after he failed to show up at an appointment with his probation officer. The warrant hadn't yet been issued by Mason County Superior Court, according to the DOC.

Also at the news conference, authorities announced plans for a memorial service for Fairbanks at 1 p.m. Monday at Port Angeles Civic Field.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

The Associated Press contributed.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

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