NEWHALEM, Wash. – A Seattle man is in custody after admitting to killing his brother in North Cascades National Park.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that National Parks Rangers heard gunshots in the Newhalem area around 4 am on Monday, August 8th.
Rangers found 40-year-old John Thomson in a car near the scene.
Thomson initially denied hearing any gunshots.
However, Rangers inspecting the roadway found a large amount of blood and bullet holes in the guardrail near where they had spoken to Thomson.
Thomson’s brother, 69-year-old Robert Thomson, was found dead at the bottom of a nearby embankment.
John Thomson was arrested in Newhalem, where he confessed to killing his brother.
Investigators seized an AR-15 style rifle from Thomson’s vehicle.
John Thomson is a previously convicted felon and has also been charged with unlawful firearm possession in addition to murder.