Delano shooting leaves one man injured

A verbal argument over a barking dog allegedly escalated into a physical fight, with one man getting shot and injured in Delano Heights Aug. 6, according to a Grand Coulee police report.

An 89-year-old man listed as a witness told police he too pointed a firearm at the suspect in order to break up the men — an action the victim’s mother credits with saving her son’s life, the police report said.

Dustin Miley, 45, survived his injuries but spent multiple days in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center and is about to undergo surgery, according to his father, Bill Miley.

“He was out of the ICU on the 9th,” Miley wrote of his son in a text message to The Star. “His recovery is slow and he’s scheduled for surgery tomorrow [Wednesday] for infection in his hip where the bullet is lodged.”

The suspect, according to the report, is 28-year-old Austin Krabbenhoft, who lives on Wenatchee Avenue and told the arresting officer that he works for the school district. 

GCPD Officer Andrew Kline described Krabbenhoft as “completely cooperative.” After an interview conducted while he was detained, Krabbenhoft was booked into the Grant County Jail on first-degree assault. His name did not appear on the jail roster as of Aug. 20, meaning he was released either on bail or personal recognizance and will have to show up to all related court proceedings.

Kline’s report summarizes what Krabbenhoft reportedly told him during the interview: The argument started over Miley yelling at Krabbenhoft’s dog, Krabbenhoft sprayed Miley with a hose, and Miley began throwing rocks at Krabbenhoft. The men exchanged taunts, then Krabbenhoft scaled a 6-foot fence, thereby exiting his property onto the street where Miley was. After wrestling on the ground, Krabbenhoft allegedly shot Miley with a 9mm Hollow Point.

An elder witness told police he “pointed his firearm towards the suspect for a brief moment … then lowered his own weapon. The suspect retrieved his holster (on the ground) and walked back to his own residence.” Then he apparently called the police and told dispatch “he had shot someone,” the report states.

Interim Chief Levi Johnson was also on scene in the aftermath of the shooting and arrest, as were three Coulee Dam police officers and a Grant County deputy.

In his report, Kline wrote he believes “the case is primarily concerned with self-defense,” though he noted “Austin’s decisions stand out,” in that he allegedly had a firearm, scaled a 6-foot fence to confront Miley in the street and advanced rather than retreated.

“This was a major incident,” Kline wrote in his initial report. “I was grateful for the assistance of the Coulee Dam Police Department. Their assistance helped keep the investigation organized - and helped to preserve evidence.”

Krabbenhoft’s upcoming court dates were not available by press time.