Suspects had gun used to kill Marin County hiker, authorities say

Video: Marin County Sheriff investigating fatal Fairfax shooting

Three drifters accused of killing a 67-year-old Marin County hiker still had the gun they used when they were busted in Oregon and were still driving the victim’s station wagon, which they tried to sell at a Portland soup kitchen, authorities and witnesses said Thursday.

But before they could pawn off the Volkswagen Jetta, investigators tracked down the three using the car’s GPS system, officials said. The gun was recovered.

The suspects were arrested Wednesday afternoon at the dining hall of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, two days after authorities believe they killed prominent tantra teacher and massage therapist Steve Carter on Monday evening on a popular fire trail near Fairfax.

The circumstances of the slaying remained murky Thursday, but Marin County sheriff’s Lt. Doug Pittman called it a “crime of opportunity” at a news conference.

Arrested were Morrison Haze Lampley, 23, Sean Michael Angold, 24, and Lila Scott Allgood, 18. Officials did not identify their home towns, though in prior arrest records Lampley was described as a transient.

From left to right: Sean Michael Angold, Lila Scott Alligood, Morrison Haze Lampley. From left to right: Sean Michael Angold, Lila Scott Alligood, Morrison Haze Lampley. Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Suspects had gun used to kill Marin County hiker, authorities say 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

Carter was shot multiple times on a trail in the Loma Alta Open Space Preserve, and was discovered by another hiker shortly after 6 p.m. Monday. Found alongside Carter was his dog, a Doberman pinscher, which was also shot but is expected to recover. Carter was still clutching the dog’s leash.

Police said the suspects took Carter’s keys and drove the 2003 Jetta north, apparently not realizing they were being tracked.

Valerie Chapman, pastoral administrator at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Portland, said she was walking back toward the dining hall Wednesday afternoon when hordes of police appeared to “drop out of the sky.”

“The police were very coordinated,” Chapman said. “They knew that whoever they were looking for was close by because the car was parked across the street.”

About 10 minutes before police swooped in with rifles drawn, Chapman said she had shooed the three suspects away from one of the dining hall’s entrances because they were smoking too close to an open door — an indicator to her that they were new and didn’t know the rules.

After the arrest, one patron approached Chapman and told her the suspects had been soliciting buyers for the stolen car.

“They didn’t seem particularly smart,” she said. “For them to think that anyone eating at a dining hall would have money to buy a car is not exactly realistic.”

Pittman revealed Thursday that Carter’s wallet had been found Wednesday afternoon on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between the scene of the crime and Point Reyes Station, where the suspects were seen at a gas station shortly after the shooting.

Marin County detectives were in Portland on Thursday interviewing the suspects. The three may not return to Marin County until next week, officials said, pending the results of a court hearing in Multnomah County.

Little is known about the suspects, but court records show Lampley was recently behind bars.

In May, Lampley was charged in San Diego County with the unlawful selling or receiving of a stolen vehicle, a felony, and with stealing a dog, a misdemeanor.

He pleaded guilty to the felony charge and was sentenced to 97 days in jail, but was released because he had served that amount while the case was pending.

In July 2012, Lampley was arrested in Mountain View along with another man for allegedly carrying a concealed 5-inch knife. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor and was freed with a suspended sentence.

Carter was a respected tantra instructor who for years had worked out of Middletown (Lake County), where he taught classes at Harbin Hot Springs, a popular resort that burned down in last month’s devastating Valley Fire.

He and his wife, Lokita Carter, had moved to Costa Rica in December to build their dream home and “live a simpler life,” according to a fundraising page for Lokita Carter.

But in July, Lokita Carter was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer and returned to California to receive treatment at the Marin Cancer Clinic.

Steve Carter followed her back to help care for her, and was staying with friends in Fairfax when he went out to walk his dog Monday evening.

“I am beyond devastated to face this situation while already going through intensive breast cancer treatment. His senseless and shocking death is incomprehensible to all of us, and this time is the most difficult,” Lokita Carter wrote on the fundraising page.

“Please hold Steve and me close to your hearts and in your prayers. I am shattered, shocked, enraged and so so sad.”

As of Thursday afternoon, more than 540 people had given more than $55,000.

Kale Williams and Jenna Lyons are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. E-mail: kwilliams@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfkale, @JennaJourno