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Accused Post Falls shooter remains in jail

by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Staff Writer | December 18, 2021 1:00 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — The man accused of shooting two people before going on a crime spree earlier this month remains in jail on $2 million bond.

Tisen W. Sterkel, 32, of Oldtown, is charged with 12 felonies: two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent, robbery, burglary, attempted unlawful entry, unlawful entry and eluding.

Defense attorney Jay Logsdon filed a motion last week to reduce Sterkel’s bond, which First District Judge Robert Caldwell previously set at $2 million.

Logsdon requested Thursday that the bond hearing be postponed. Another hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The charges stem from Dec. 2, when Post Falls police responded to reports of a shooting at the Conoco gas station at Highway 41 and Poleline Avenue.

Witnesses said a man later identified as Sterkel loaded a rifle and opened fire at other vehicles.

A 30-year-old man was shot in the neck, police said. He was reportedly sitting in his parked vehicle when a bullet flew through the windshield, striking him.

He was transported to Kootenai Health, where he underwent surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.

A 38-year-old man was shot in the leg, according to court documents, and transported to Kootenai Health for treatment.

Sterkel allegedly shot the tire of a car and pointed the gun at another person but didn’t fire.

Security footage appeared to show Sterkel fire at least five shots, according to police reports.

Law enforcement said the shooting appeared to be random, with no connection between Sterkel and the injured individuals.

After the shooting, witnesses said Sterkel fled the scene in a gold pickup.

Police said Sterkel ditched the pickup and entered a residence with a weapon. He allegedly stole a vehicle from the homeowners and took off again.

Sterkel stopped again, police said, and allegedly forced a man to switch vehicles with him at gunpoint before driving off.

Deputies from the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office spotted Sterkel driving along the railroad tracks along Highway 53.

When Sterkel refused to stop, law enforcement reportedly pinned Sterkel’s vehicle from both sides, disabling it.

Police took Sterkel into custody and transported him to Kootenai Health to be evaluated before booking him into jail.

At the hospital, Sterkel reportedly said he hoped the people he shot were OK.

Sterkel later told police he didn’t know why he shot those people and thought something inside of him had “snapped,” according to court documents.

A preliminary hearing in the case is expected to take place in January.

A GoFundMe campaign to support the man who was shot in the neck had raised more than $13,000 as of Thursday.