OKANOGAN – Two people have died and another was injured in what appears to have been a murder-suicide in Okanogan last Thursday, Aug. 25.

The two victims were identified as Rene J. Menard, 39, Okanogan and Catrina M. Fling, 39, Riverside, according to Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers.

“Menard was killed at the scene and Fling was airlifted to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. The suspect is Shelly L. Payton, 32, of Okanogan. Payton and Menard were living together at the residence on N. Second Ave. in Okanogan where the shooting occurred,” Rogers said in a press release.

The investigation shows that around 5 p.m. Thursday night Fling and Menard were at the residence in Okanogan when Payton arrived.

“There was an argument between Payton and Menard in the residence, Payton then walked out of the residence and went to her vehicle and grabbed a .40 caliber semi-auto pistol. Payton then returned to the residence at which time Fling was just starting to dial 911 to call the Sheriff’s Office. At this time Payton shot Fling in the lower abdomen area. Fling collapsed on the floor but was able to still dial 911 and report the shooting to dispatchers,” said Rogers.

Rogers added, “It appears that there was then a struggle of some sort between Payton and Menard when another shot was fired from Payton. The scene indicates that Menard was holding on to Payton from behind and the single shot went through both subjects. Menard was pronounced dead at the scene and Payton later died at the hospital.”

Fling has been listed as in satisfactory condition by Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane.

Detectives and deputies are also investigating another incident that occurred yesterday afternoon with Payton, according to Rogers. That same night at around 7:30 p.m. detectives received a telephone call from McDonald’s in Omak.

“They advised that around 2 p.m. yesterday a female was in the restaurant eating with her kids when Payton walked into the restaurant, pulled out the pistol stuck it in the woman’s chest and pulled the trigger,” the sheriff said. “The weapon was not loaded and according to the witnesses Payton stated that next time there would be bullets in the gun. Payton then left McDonald’s.”

Law enforcement was not called at the time of the incident but notified around three hours later after management at McDonalds heard about the shooting. Detectives are pulling tapes from McDonald’s and looking for the women involved to interview her.

Families have been notified and no one else was at the residence at the time of the shooting.