Details scarce in Sandpoint killing

SANDPOINT — Few details emerged Thursday following the death of a Washington state man who was reportedly killed during an alcohol-fueled confrontation on Wednesday night.

Sandpoint Police said Alberto Tuinzing was fatally injured in the confrontation and Anthony Noell Viola suffered a gunshot wound to his left bicep fired from a semiautomatic pistol.

Law officers were summoned to a home at 726 N. Sixth Ave. at approximately 6 p.m. Tuinzing, a 36-year-old from Spokane, Wash., was found unresponsive at the scene and declared dead at Bonner General Hospital.

The cause of Tuinzing’s death was not released because an autopsy was pending. Viola, 35, of Sandpoint, was treated at Bonner General and released, according to Sandpoint Police.

Sandpoint Police said Tuinzing and Viola were related by marriage. Police haven’t divulged what the two were arguing about or how the incident unfolded.

Calls to police Chief Corey Coon were not returned on Thursday. Bonner County Coroner Kitt Rose also did not respond to a request for comment.

The police department issued a news release Thursday identifying the combatants and said the investigation is ongoing. The news release said no criminal charges were being sought as of Thursday morning.

“It’s still under investigation,” said Bonner County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Shane Greenbank.