Suspects in Shooting Make Court Appearance
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H E U N I Vi. 'I"II T Y 0 F I D A H 0 INDEX Vol. 106, No. 10 TUQsd5$ — Sept. 21, 2004 II 2004 Arts&Culture.... Partly cloudy Hi; Briefs .. ....2 63'o:41' Calendar.... ...2 Opinion.... ...4 Sports &Rec .. ....8 BY BRENNAN GAUSE football coach Nick Holt said, describing UI President Timothy "It's a time that the university is staying SPORTS&SEC EDITOR McMillan at a press conference Monday White said. "We have together as a community. We do so in good afternoon. "(He) team- cared about his +care mobilized all of the times and bad.... Our hearts go out, our niversity of Idaho sophomore Eric mates, cared about the University of Idaho, teams and are working sympathies go out to the families, the par- MEMORIAL FUND McMillan was shot at his home cared about coaching staff, just a great, hard to make students ents, the brothers and sisters and friends," U Sunday afternoon and died early great human being. know what services are White said. "We will work together as a Monday morning at Gritman Medical "He was always around us.... He was available. But it will be a community in order to help the students An Eric McMillan Memorial Center. always up and around the Dome and hang- difficult handful of days who lived with these students, played with Fund has been established. McMillan, a business management and ing out with coaches and players." to work through the very these students, who care deeply about Donations may be made at any human resources major, played football uni- unbelievable Athletic Director Rob Spear said the most sensitive part of these students, cope with this FirstBank location in Idaho, and basketball and ran track at Murrieta versity will provide counseling and support these issues as we go for- tragedy." Valley High School in California before services for students affected by the death. ward." The investigation by the Moscow Police Oregon and Washington. coming to Moscow to play on the Vandal "We have taken the stance that we want MCMILLAN White expressed his Department into McMillan's death is ongo- Idaho locations are in. football team. He was a starting corner- to take care of Eric and his family," Spear condolences for the fami- ing. Moscow, Boise, Coeur d'Alene, back at the time of his death. said. SAnd we friends and team- Two men certainly want to take care of ly, Seattle are currently being Grangeville, Hayden, Post Falls As a redshirt freshman, McMillan start- our existing student-athletes in all sports mates of McMill an, as well as those of UI held at the Whitman County Jail in Colfax, ed all three games this season and had 10 that had an association with Eric." students Jason C. Yearout and Jack K. Wash, Matthew R. Wells, 27, and his broth- and two locations in Lewiston. tackles and one pass interception. "We have a response team at the univer- Shannon, who di ed after a motorcycle acci- er, James J. Wells, 25, have been taken into "First of all a great human being," UI sity for events that happen of this nature," dent Sunday. custody in connection with the iricident. Suspects in shooting ;~ make court appearance Brothers on The Wells brothers appeared being held Tuesday afternoon in Whitman Superior charges eluding law Court for a preliminary hearing. They of sat quietly side by side in bright orange jumpsuits as Whitman County Superior enforcement oPciais Court Commissioner Philip H. Faris read their charges. ! Matthew, the driver of the vehicle, is BY JESSIE BONNER " facing felony charges of attempting to 2':4>i. NEWS EDITOR elude a police vehicle, while James faces the charge of conspiracy to elude a wo Seattle men are being held in the Whitman in police vehicle. Both are facing charges of County Jail officer. Colfax, Wash., on charges of elud- obstructing a police «,: "( T The Moscow Police Department is their ing law enforcement before arrest the shoot- evening. continuing its investigation of Sunday and Whitman prosecuting attorney 'Iio o Matthew Wells and his ing, R. II, 27, Denis Tracy alluded to the incident in brother James J. Wells, 25, are being his 'pening remarks. ~xoustigeke4 in connectjori with the "We have extensive and danger- shooting of University Idaho student very of involved here," said Eric McMillan, who died after ous conduct Tracy 19, being at Monday's hearing. shot Sunday evening at his home on shoot- Lenter Avenue. Witnesses at the scene of the ing told Moscow police officers that two males in a late-model, white BMW were seen driving away from the area where McMillan had been shot Sunday evening, according to a prepared state- ment released by Moscow Chief of Police Daniel Weaver. The men led police in a high-speed chase that began between Pullman and Colfax. According to a report filed by Whitman County Deputy James Pelissier Jr., officers set out several sets of road spikes to slow down the vehicle, which was traveling at speeds up to 110 miles per hour. The car avoided roadblocks and DANIEL GICKLEY / ARGONAUT swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid Defendant James J. Wells awaits his preliminary hearing Monday in the Whitman County Superior Courtroom. the spikes, the report said. During the pursuit the passenger of the vehicle Matthew Wells. Whitman County Faris told the men that Latah County provide their own attorneys, both defen- threw items out of the window at least Sheriff Brett Myers said the car is cur- Magistrate William Hamlett issued dants shook their heads. Faris assigned four times, Pelissier stated. rently in Ellensburg, Wash., and will be first-degree murder warrants Monday. Mark Monson, of Mosman Law Offices Whitman county and Colfax police processed by Idaho State Police later The two men now have the option to in Moscow, to defend James. The law ended their pursuit at Othello, Wash., this week. waive an extradition hearing and be offices of John Snyder and Steve where Washington State Police contin- "We have not recovered a weapon yet. transferred to Latah County. A clerk Martonick in Pullman will defend ued the chase with aircraft. The vehicle That doesn't mean a weapon wasn' from the Latah County Courthouse said Matthew. was stopped a strip of road spikes on them," DANIEL GICKLEY/ARGONAUT by with Myers said. the warrants have not been served and Bail was set at $75,000. A second Interstate 90 near the Vantage Bridge McMillan, who was shot once in the an extradition hearing has not been hearing in Whitman County is sched- Matthew R. Wells is escorted by Sheriff Brett and the two men were arrested. chest, was pronounced dead Monday scheduled. uled for Friday where the Wellses may Myers for his preliminary hearing Monday. The white BMW is registered to morning at Gritman Medical Center. When asked if they could afFord to enter pleas if they are formally charged. UI students killed in Fraternity holds vigil to remember brothers motorcycle accident BY SAM TAYLOR Carpenter attended a ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR smiles as he mass at St. AROONAUT STAFF remembers Augustine' he motorcycle accident Shannon's Catholic wo University of Idaho students are dead after that took the life of Rick James Church a motorcycle accident Sunday morning near University of Idaho junior impression. Sunday night Deakin and Universit'y avenues. Jason Yearout and sophomore "He had in memory of Jason C. Yearout, 20, was driving a motorcycle Jack Shannon has left many at such a great Yearout and south on Deakin Avenue with a passenger, Jack K the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity smile," Shannon. Shannon, 19, when they approached a grassy bank in shock. ...,';-;- (".'arpenter Yearout between Deakin Avenue and the Delta Sigma Phi The men who live on the cor- remembers. was ro- fraternity on University Avenue. ner of Deakin and University "He was The motorcycle flipped when it hit a railroad avenues have fond memories of always in a SHANNON at Gritman spike used for landscaping. Officers from the their fraternity brothers. good mood." Medical Moscow Police Department arrived on the scene at They remember the fun Fraternity Center early 3:36a.m. to find several people gathered around the times and parties where the brother Steven Baker says Sunday morning after the acci- two students, who were both thrown from the bike skinny, brown-haired Yearout Shannon was a great skate- dent. Shannon was pronounced on impact. Both were transported to Gritman would put on an oversized jack- boarder and a great athlete. dead Monday afternoon at Medical Center, where Yearout was pronounced et and grab a microphone. "He was such a good skate- Sacred Heart Medical Center in dead. "He loved to rap and make boarder. And he loved to play Spokane, where he had been in Idaho State Police trooper Clint Baldwin said people laugh," says Holland Frisbee goH'," Baker says. critical condition. Yearout received substantial head injuries, which Houfburg, a Delta Sig who was Those who remember Now friends mourn Yearout probably lead to his death. in Yearout's pledge class. "He Yearout remember him for his and Shannon near the scene of Shannon received treatment at Gritman but was knew exactly the right thing to enthusiasm. the accident as girls hug and later transported by helicopter to Sacred Heart say at the exact right time." "He was just a badass," guys cry into the shoulders of Medical Center in Spokane, where he remained in Yearout was majoring in the- Bohachek says. "He loved to their brothers. Plastic cups critical condition before dying Monday afternoon. ater and film and wanted to hang out; he was just really holding the remaining candles Neither of the men was wearing a helmet and move to Hollywood and become chill." from the night's vigil are placed alcohol was a factor in the crash, according to a a star after he graduated, says Yearout's fraternity brothers around the spot and a cross is report released by the Idaho State Police Tyler Bohachek, vice president say he was very ambitious and nailed to a tree in memory Department, which is further investigating the acci- of the fraternity and a member the most memorable thing Yearout and Shannon.