Silver Lake resort owner killed in murder-suicide at RV park

Owner Timothy A. Russell, 56, was shot multiple times by Ronald Brant, 86, a resident of the longtime park at 120 Lake Road, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office reports.

According to a sheriff’s office press release, during the attack on Wednesday, June 19, Brant also shot Russell’s wife, Ginger Heckman, but she was not hit, and attacked a woman who lives in the park.

Brant was a war veteran with whom the family had a close relationship – so close that Brant made Russell the executor of his estate and Russell considered him one of his best friends, Heckman told The Daily News.

Dean Sanders, who moved to Streeter’s Resort five years ago, called Russell “the prince of the Castle Rock area” and said the small community of Silver Lake is still “collecting” itself after the shooting.

Police were called to the mobile home park west of the Toutle Lake School District around 10:20 a.m.

According to the sheriff’s office, Brant made unwanted advances toward the woman he attacked before the shooting.

Heckman and Russell knew about his infatuation, she said, and Brant was angry at Russell for trying to interfere.

“Everyone kept telling Ron to leave her alone,” she said. “She just wanted to be friends with us.”

But Brant didn’t listen.

Heckman told Brant shot her husband in the resort’s boathouse and then shot her as she approached them.

He then entered the other woman’s RV and attempted to shoot her, but the gun malfunctioned, the sheriff’s office reports. The sheriff’s office says the woman fought off Brant’s physical attack and he eventually fled into his own RV.

Shortly afterward, a Cowlitz County police officer heard a single gunshot from Brant’s trailer. The Lower Columbia SWAT team later used a drone to find Brant dead in his trailer rather than enter the shooter’s area.

Cowlitz County Coroner Dana Tucker reports that Brant died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and his death was ruled a suicide, while Russell died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.

Cowlitz County Deputy Detective Troy Brightbill said Brant used a .22-caliber revolver.

Streeter’s Resort has been in operation since at least the 1960s, offering RV sites and cabins along the east side of Silver Lake. An article from The Columbian reports that Russell and Heckman took over the site in 2019.

Roy Epps, 80, of Renton, who often comes to Streeter’s Resort to fish, said he was shocked by the attack.

“It’s sad that someone took him out like that,” he said.

The resort posted a tribute to Russell on Facebook on Friday, honoring his humor, selflessness and passion for adventure – from speedboats to motorcycles.

“Tim orchestrated happiness. Whether it was a sunset boat ride, long nights around the campfire, or kids learning to fish, he made sure everyone had fun and was always the life of the party,” the post reads. “… May the stars above Streeter’s sparkle a little brighter tonight knowing you are among them. We will love and miss you forever.”