Motorcyclist, pickup truck driver both charged after road rage confrontation turns to shooting in Chelan County
Sep 24, 2026, 10:36 AM
A photo of a Chelan County Sheriff's Office vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the Chelan County Sheriff's Office)
(Photo courtesy of the Chelan County Sheriff's Office)
A road rage shooting between a motorcyclist and a pickup truck driver occurred in Chelan County on Sunday outside of a local grocery store.
A 20-year-old motorcyclist, Russell McClees, was riding northbound on Chumstick Highway when he came across Benjamin Barke, a 71-year-old driving a pickup truck, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) announced.
Outside the Plain Grocery Store in Plain, the two men confronted each other shortly after they crossed paths.
RELATED STORIES
Fight escalated after pickup truck driver pulled a handgun; motorcyclist ended up firing the shot
The Barke confronted McClees after the two encountered each other on the highway, according to statements from each individual and a review of security camera footage from nearby businesses.
The confrontation escalated into a physical altercation between the two men, leading to Barke pulling a handgun out and pointing it at McClees.
As the two were fighting, Barke attempted to knock over McClees’s motorcycle but dropped the handgun while doing so.
McClees picked up the handgun and moved away from Barke, though the pickup truck driver continued to approach McClees in an attempt to retrieve his firearm. McClees then fired a single round, striking Barke in the left thigh, causing extensive injuries.
After the shooting, McClees asked a bystander to call 911. He also retrieved a belt from inside the grocery store and used it as a makeshift tourniquet to bring Barke’s bleeding under control. McClees remained in the area until law enforcement arrived.
Barke was transported to Harborview Medical Center for specialized care due to the severity of his leg injury.
Detectives determined probable cause to charge McClees with first-degree assault and Barke with second-degree assault. McClees was booked into the Chelan County Regional Jail. The second-degree assault charges on Barke were referred to the Chelan County Prosecutor’s Office.
Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here.
