Suspect in custody in Bishop homicide
Brian Russell Stange expected to be charged with firstdegree murder
Inyo County Sheriff Stephanie Rennie and Inyo County District Attorney Tom Hardy on Thursday jointly announced the arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of Bishop resident David Miller.
Brian Russell Stange,
52, of Bishop, was taken into custody at approximately 5:56 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 22, in Bishop. Stange was arrested for murder by members of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department, Inyo/Mono Special Enforcement Detail, Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bishop Police Department.
Stange will be arraigned in coming days on charges that are anticipated to include first-degree murder, and enhancements that the offense was committed with a firearm and while lying in wait.
This arrest comes 10 days after this tragic homicide occurred and is the result of the relentless efforts and a meticulous investigation by Inyo County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, with valuable assistance from the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, Bishop Police Department, Mono County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol. Investigators have been working tirelessly, around the clock, following up on significant leads and numerous tips from the public.
Miller, aged 57, was shot near his residence in Bishop at approximately 3:09 p.m. on February 12. Law enforcement initially responded to reports of an individual lying in a driveway and bleeding near a residence located at the 100 block of Shepard Lane in Bishop. Deputies discovered Miller, who appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and
District Attorney’s Office
extend their sincere condolences to Miller’s family, friends, and coworkers.
Miller was a 17-year employee of the Inyo County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and someone who was respected by colleagues and considered a friend by many coworkers. According to Eastern
Sierra AFSCME (Local 315), he played a committed and pivotal role in the Union, giving hundreds of hours to his Local 315 colleagues and representing his coworkers as recording secretary, treasurer, vice president, audit trustee, delegate to Council 57, and a member of the union’s bargaining team.
Local 315 has established a GoFundMe to help Miller’s family with funeral costs and to support his three daughters. Individuals interested in contributing can visit https://gofund. me/8efdcc76.
The investigation is still ongoing. Additional information cannot be released at this time to preserve the integrity of the case.
The public is reminded that a suspect in any criminal case is presumed to be not guilty until proven otherwise in a court of law.
The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office would again like to thank the public for its ongoing support.
Anyone with any additional information that could be useful to this ongoing investigation is asked to contact Investigator Howard at (760) 878-0383, option 4.