Man charged with murder after Hauser Lake shooting

COEUR d’ALENE — A man accused of shooting a Hauser Lake resident dead last week has been charged with a slew of felonies, including murder.

Adam J. Bennett, 44, is charged with first degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, possession of stolen property, unlawful possession of a firearm and grand theft.

Additional charges are pending, police said.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office responded the night of Feb. 28 to a report of a structure fire and a shooting with multiple victims in the area of Hauser Lake and Highway 53.

Hauser Lake Fire and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue also responded to the fire.

Deputies found a deceased man at the scene, later identified as Dennis Rogers, a 77-year-old Hauser Lake resident.

Before the shooting, police said, Rogers spotted an unidentified suspect setting a fire near a chicken coop. He reportedly armed himself with a gun and went outside to investigate.

The suspect, later identified as Bennett, allegedly overpowered Rogers, took the gun and shot him.

Bennett then allegedly shot another person, who was transported to Kootenai Health with non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses say they saw a man running from the scene after the shooting.

Police initially identified Bennett as a person of interest in the case. He was arrested and booked into the Kootenai County jail for an unrelated warrant.

An investigation reportedly determined that Bennett acted alone.

Bennett is being held without bond pending another hearing.

He is expected to appear in court today.