By Joe Bachman
Editor

ALMOND — On May 29, defendant Steve Breneman made his initial appearance in court for charges of first-degree homicide for the May 5 shooting death of 45-year-old Donald Brewer.

More details have come out regarding circumstances of the shooting, stemming from jealousy over an extra-marital affair. According to police reports, on May 5, a 911 call was made regarding a shooting on the 7700 block of Fourth Avenue in the Town of Almond. Two witnesses to the shooting, the victim’s 12-year-old and 14-year-old sons, rushed to a nearby saloon to inform the eventual caller that “daddy’s been shot.”

Brewer was found by authorities on his trailer porch, deceased, in which an autopsy would later confirm to have been caused by two gunshot wounds to the “center mass” of his body.

In January of 2018, Breneman found out that his wife had allegedly been having a relationship with Brewer for nearly two years. This led to a separation, and continued weekly death threats made to Brewer by Breneman, according to one of Brewer’s family members.

Brenemen was separated from his wife at the time, and spoke to her shortly after the shooting stating that “Don Brewer is gone, and soon I will be, too.” According to interviews given by Brenemen to authorities after his arrest, Breneman told his wife that “Don’s gone; I’m next. I told you I couldn’t lose you, and now you will be alone.”

At approximately 7:21 p.m. that night, authorities would find Breneman walking and talking the phone with an acquaintance near Patterson Lake Road. Breneman was unarmed at the time and allegedly told police when confronted, “I’m the guy you’re looking for.” Breneman’s gun was apparently in his vehicle, and authorities would find matching ammunition at his residence.

Police interviewed Breneman’s wife, who stated that they attended marital counseling a few days prior to the shooting, which afterwards his wife wanted to to stay separated. However, Breneman did not, stating allegedly that “if she left, she would kill Don.” Breneman had also been showing signs of self-harm prior to the shooting, threatening to shoot himself on multiple occasions.

On the day of the shooting, Breneman told authorities that he confronted Brewer and  “lost it”.

If convicted, Breneman faces life in prison. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18.