Sean C. Morgan
A Sweet Home man is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly discharging a shotgun inside a local business.
Police responded to a reported shooting at 800 Long St., Bubbles and Barks, a dog grooming business, at 12:37 p.m. on Dec. 21 and arrested Barry Drew Boydston, 49.
Boydston was arraigned Wednesday on two counts of attempted murder, two counts of first-degree attempted assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a short-barrel shotgun, two counts of menacing, fourth-degree assault and pointing a firearm at another person.
He will appear in Linn County Circuit next for a pretrial conference on Jan. 10.
He is being held at Linn County Jail on $500,000 bail.
According to witnesses, Boydston arrived at the business, which is owned by his girlfriend, Cindy Blondin, 50, of Sweet Home, with his brother, said Police Chief Bob Burford. His brother, Damon Boydston, 51, then drove away.
Barry Boydston allegedly brandished a sawed-off shotgun as he walked into the business and at close range, pointed it at Blondin’s employee, Rebekah Katelnikoff, 26, of Sweet Home, Burford said.
“A struggle ensued as, first, Blondin, and then both women attempted to take the shotgun away from Boydston,” Burford said. “A round was fired into a tub where one of the dogs was being bathed.”
The dog appeared uninjured, Burford said.
Katelnikoff fled the building to call 9-1-1 while Blondin continued the struggle, Burford said.
While calling 9-1-1, Katelnikoff reported hearing a second shot, Burford said. That shot was later found to have struck the ceiling of the business during the continued struggle.
When police arrived, approximately two minutes later, Burford said, Boydston exited the building without the weapon and surrendered without incident.
Neither woman was seriously hurt, Burford said.
Lebanon police officers stopped Damon Boydston a few minutes later based on a vehicle description provided during the initial broadcast, Burford said. He was taken into custody for driving under the influence and felon in possession of a firearm after Lebanon police found him allegedly in possession of a second loaded firearm.
“The owner of the dog grooming business had kicked Barry and his brother out of her house on the Friday before the incident, Burford said. “A neighbor called the victim prior to this incident on Tuesday and told her that Boydston was back at the residence. She went out again told them to leave.
“We have every reason to believe Boydston wanted to harm the women – not just scare them.”