He Denied Hearing Shots While At The Scene Of A Crime. Then, He Confessed To Killing His Brother

A man who police say killed his brother in a national park originally told officers he didn't hear any shots, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office in Washington state.

But, the nearby blood did him in.

On Aug. 8, WSCO deputies and detectives responded to State Route 20 and Mile Post 128 near Newhalem for the report of a homicide investigation. At approximately 4 a.m., National Parks Rangers from the North Cascades National Park responded for the report of a single shot that was followed by more shots in rapid succession.

Rangers made it to the area at 4:45 a.m. and found John Thomson, of Seattle, sitting in a vehicle near Mile Post 128. Thomson told police he didn't hear any shots.

Rangers continued to investigate along State Route 20 and, while returning to Newhalem, saw a large amount of blood along the guard rail, where they had spoken to Thomson, according to police. They also found bullet holes in the guard rail near the blood.

When they looked down the embankment below, they found 69-year-old Robert Thomson's body.

Police detained John Thomson in Newhalem, and he had an AR-15-style rifle that was could be seen through the vehicle's windows.

WCSO detectives, crime scene investigators and patrol deputies took over the investigation, and John Thomson confessed to fatally shooting his brother multiple times with the intent to kill him.

Police then arrested John Thomson and charged him with first-degree murder and two counts of unlawful possession of firearms. Thomson, who was already a felon, was booked into Whatcom County Jail.