Oregon Boatbuilder Shoots Girlfriend 3 Times

With blood on his website, it is almost like “Murder He Wrote.” Brian Brush who owned North River Boats in Roseburg, Oregon has been charged with first degree murder of a woman who has been described as his “on again, off again girlfriend.” Witnesses said she wouldn’t get back into Brush’s truck. Two police officers standing nearby saw Brush shoot Lisa Bonney three times with his shotgun at close range.

This picture appears on the North River Website. Could this have been the truck that Lisa Bonney did not want to enter?

Story by Stephen Beaven, Oregonian.com and other sources--

Witnesses say an argument preceded a shooting in Long Beach in which an Oregon man allegedly killed a woman, Long Beach Police Chief Flint Wright said this afternoon. Brian K. Brush, of Roseburg, former owner of North River Boats, is accused of shooting Lisa G. Bonney of Long Beach on Friday afternoon.

The couple had been in a relationship "that was sort of on again, off again," Wright said.

North River Boats were designed for the Pacific Northwest.

She Wouldn’t Get into His Truck

They were sitting on a bench near Bolstad Beach when they started to argue. Witnesses told investigators that Brush wanted Bonney to get into his truck.

When she started to walk away, he went to the truck, got a shotgun and allegedly shot her, Wright said.

Police officers nearby said it initially appeared as if Brush had fired into the grass. Brush surrendered when he saw the officers.

Brush, 47, apparently had homes in Roseburg and Long Beach and spent most of his time in Washington, according to Wright. Wright said investigators have searched the homes of Brush and Bonney and will try to retrace the last several days of Bonney's life this week.

Brush is the former owner of North River Boats of Roseburg, one of the region's leading builders of sportfishing boats. North River's manufacturing facility was shut down for two weeks in March as the FBI investigated a suspicion of wire fraud.

The North River Boats were set up for cool and cold climates.

Bank Robbery Via Floor Plans

In April, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accused Brush of defrauding Wells Fargo bank by inflating the number of boat and motor sales in its inventory in order to gain millions in floor plan financing. Brush also faces lawsuits throughout Oregon, according to The Roseburg News-Review.

In May the boat builder filed for Chapter 11 protection under the federal bankruptcy laws. The company is now under the supervision of a state court receiver.

Wright said investigators don't know a motive for the shooting. He was uncertain if the FBI investigation played a role.

Brush’s History of North River Boats – From its Website

Brian Brush purchased North River Boats, Inc in 1997 with the intention of increasing North River’s production capabilities and market presence. Prior to 1998, North River Boats’ highest volume years were 83 boats per year (1991 and 1992).

For the past 11 years, North River Boats has been able to steadily increase boat sales to the current model year production level of 1,200 boats, making North River Boats the leading heavy gauge aluminum boat manufacturer in the Northwest. Along with the growth in production, North River Boats has experienced continuous job growth and expanded the work environment for Douglas County. Being able to offer training and family-wage jobs to over 200 people puts North River Boats as one of the top ten employers in Douglas County.

North River Boats also has a thriving Commercial and Government division. With the acquisition of Aluminum Marine Construction (dba ALMAR), North River Boats solidified its reputation for making some of the strongest, most innovative and respected boats in the commercial and government sectors.

Visit North River Boats website (at your own risk)...
http://www.northriverboats.com/