February 9, 2021
A 40-year-old North Dakota man was allegedly gunned down by his former father-in-law in the parking lot of the Lewiston Rosauers grocery store Friday night. The victim was reportedly was expecting to pick up his children. John A. Mast died a short time later at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center from multiple gunshot wounds. On Monday, Nez Perce County Magistrate Judge Michelle Evans ordered a $1 million bond on a first-degree murder charge for James R. Brashear, 67, of Winchester, who allegedly confessed to Lewiston police that he went to the scene for the express purpose of killing Mast Deputy Nez Perce County Prosecutor Shelby Sieracki said the state requested the high bond because the shooting took place in a public parking lot at the busiest time of day, and that Brashear poses a threat to the community and himself. According to an affidavit of probable cause charging Brashear with first-degree murder, he told police that his daughter, Rebecca Brashear-Mast, had been in a four-year custody battle with Mast over their children. Bashear also claimed that Mast had abused the children, but no charges were ever filed and Mast’s brother strongly denied those allegations. (Lewiston Tribune)