Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy David Fletcher holds up crime scene tape as investigators prepare to walk through the scene of a fatal shooting in Forks on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputy David Fletcher holds up crime scene tape as investigators prepare to walk through the scene of a fatal shooting in Forks on Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Juvenile in custody after adult is shot, killed in Forks

Sheriff’s Office: 19-year-old killed following altercation at party

FORKS — An altercation at an early-morning house party in Forks led to a 17-year-old boy shooting and killing a 19-year-old man who lived in the house, officials said Sunday.

The victim was identified as Tristen LeeShawn James Pisani, who lived in the home where he was shot with a handgun, said Clallam County Sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King.

The suspect, detained for investigation of first-degree murder, will not be identified until he appears in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday, King said.

“We will not be able to identify the suspect today,” King said Sunday.

When Forks police officers arrived to the 1300 block of Big Burn Place shortly after 5:30 a.m. Sunday, two witnesses had “detained” the juvenile and he was arrested without incident.

He was transported to the Forks Community Hospital with minor injuries and then placed into the custody of law enforcement.

“We know there has been some parties going on here,” King said. “It hasn’t been like we’re coming out here every weekend, but there has been prior reports of underage drinking.”

Crime scene tape surrounds a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks where investigators said a 17-year-old boy shot and killed a 19-year-old man after an early-morning party Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Crime scene tape surrounds a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks where investigators said a 17-year-old boy shot and killed a 19-year-old man after an early-morning party Sunday. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

King said the shooting apparently happened after the juvenile and Pisani got into an argument during the party.

The shooter left and returned — after the party had ended — and shot and killed Pisani inside his home, King said.

Now, investigators are working to piece together what happened at the party. It wasn’t clear Sunday how many people were there and what the altercation was about, King said.

“Right now everybody is still being interviewed,” King said. “At the time of the shooting we believe there was only two witnesses here, the suspect and the victim.”

Clallam County Sheriff’s detectives on scene Sunday were being assisted by the Port Angeles, Forks and La Push police departments.

He said investigators are “working backward to figure out” what happened at the party.

“We don’t know yet how the suspect got here and we don’t know the origin of the handgun,” King said. “It will certainly be important to learn where the gun came from.”

Investigators from the State Patol crime lab walk into a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

Investigators from the State Patol crime lab walk into a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks where a 19-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)

The suspect will appear in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday at 1 p.m. for a bail hearing.

Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols said there is a “possibility” that charges could be filed, though charges are commonly filed within 72 hours.

Nichols said it is likely the juvenile will be charged as an adult.

“Based on what we understand at this point in time, that’s the direction this case is developing,” Nichols said.

Nichols, who is also the county coroner, said an autopsy will be conducted in the coming days.

It was not clear Sunday how many times Pisani was shot, or where. The scene had been mostly untouched until Sunday evening to allow investigators from the State Patrol crime lab time to arrive.

“At this point we’ve just taken a very preliminary look at the scene,” Nichols said. “We’re really allowing the crime scene response team to do its work in forensically analyzing the scene. It’s only when they get to the point that they’ve documented everything that we’ll come into a fuller understanding of how many shots were fired and where the impact occurred.”

Pisani’s body was expected to be taken to Harper-Ridgeview Funeral Chapel in Port Angeles late Sunday, Nichols said.

________

Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.

Law enforcement gathers at a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks after police said a 19-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

Law enforcement gathers at a house on the 1300 block of Big Burn Place in Forks after police said a 19-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday morning. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

More in News

An interior view of the 12-passenger, all-electric hydrofoil ferry before it made a demonstration run on Port Townsend Bay on Saturday. Standing in the aisle is David Tyler, the co-founder and managing director of Artemis Technologies, the designer and builder of the carbon fiber boat. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstration provides glimpse of potential for ferry service

Battery-powered hydrofoil could open water travel

Electronic edition of newspaper set for Thursday holiday

Peninsula Daily News will have an electronic edition only… Continue reading

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her mother, Rachel Shidler of Port Angeles, during Saturday’s Summertide celebration in Webster’s Woods sculpture park at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center. The event, which marks the beginning of the summer season, featured food, music, crafts and other activities for youths and adults. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Summertide festival

Juliet Shidler, 6, tries on a flower-adorned headband she made with her… Continue reading

Law enforcement agencies to participate in Torch Run

Clallam County law enforcement agencies will participate in the… Continue reading

Crews contain wildland fire near Fisher Cove Road

Crews from Clallam County Fire District 2 quickly contained… Continue reading

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn by fellow senior Hayden Horn on Saturday. Gales had a handmade Native American cap ready for her graduation. Seventeen Crescent students graduated during traditional ceremonies in the school gym. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Crescent graduation

Crescent School senior Audrey Gales, right, looks at the homemade regalia worn… Continue reading

Pertussis cases see 25-fold increase statewide in 2024

The state Department of Health reported an increase in pertussis… Continue reading

Frank Lowenstein was hired as the Dungeness River Nature Center’s executive director in September 2024. (Frank Lowenstein)
River center director dismissed

Board is looking for candidate to fill role

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of the Clallam County Courthouse on Saturday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Demonstrators march at courthouse

A demonstrator carrying an American flag walks the sidewalk in front of… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast, communicate with their friends by text while waiting for the start of the 2025 graduation parade on Friday. The parade began at Ediz Hook and culminated with a formal ceremony Friday evening at Port Angeles Civic Field. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Graduation parade

Port Angeles High School twin graduates Kaylie Mast, left, and Kendall Mast,… Continue reading

Suzy Ames.
College pivoting to meet deficit

School cuts more than $2 million in expenses