Sheriff’s office releases names in landlord, tenant shooting

An alleged dispute between former roommates in a house turned violent Tuesday afternoon.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office isn’t saying what happened immediately before Jack E. Buxton, 71, allegedly shot Rochelle J. Breen, 55, with a .22-caliber handgun, but it did say that Buxton had rented a room to Breen for about two years. She moved out about two weeks ago, said Sgt. Fred Neiman, sheriff’s spokesman.

The shooting happened at the house at 1201 N.E. 117th St. around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. Sheriff’s deputies responded to a neighbor’s home and found Breen with a gunshot wound to the upper left leg. She told deputies that Buxton shot her, Neiman said in a release.

Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Shields, who also is a paramedic, applied a tourniquet to Breen’s leg to stop blood loss. Breen was later transported to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. She was listed in satisfactory condition Wednesday morning, hospital spokesman Ken Cole said.

Although police declined to comment on what spurred the shooting, fire officials on Tuesday did.

Fire District 6 Battalion Chief Larry Reese said it appeared the two had a disagreement.

“It appears she may have assaulted him and he was running away from her. She was trying to barge into his house when he shot her in the leg,” Reese said.

The sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating the events and circumstances surrounding the shooting. Buxton is cooperating and agreed to be interviewed, Neiman said.

The team will make a determination if the shooting was accidental or not. Either way, the report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office for review, Neiman said.

County property records indicate the house is owned by Neva M. Dalfors.