Seattle man charged in death of sound engineer

TWISP, Okanogan County — A 57-year-old Seattle man has been charged with second-degree murder and reckless endangerment in the shooting death of a sound engineer who worked on the live performances of internationally known musicians.

Police say Tom Pfaeffle was shot at the Blue Spruce Motel when he apparently put his room key into the wrong door Friday night. He was hit in the chest by a bullet fired through the closed door.

Bail has been set at $100,000 and an arraignment for Kino Michael Gomez is scheduled for July 30. According to employment records, Gomez works for King County as an engineer.

Rochelle Ogershok, spokeswoman for King County Metro, confirmed that a Kino Gomez has worked for the county since 1991. She said that he has been placed on administrative leave.

Gomez's attorney, Michael Haas, told Okanogan County Superior Court Judge Jack Burchard on Monday that Gomez was sleeping with two handguns and began shooting when he awoke and thought someone was coming into his room.

Pfaeffle ran The Tank Studio in Black Diamond.