YAKIMA, Wash. -- Whoever fatally shot a Montana woman during an incident last week on Interstate 82 may have taken a face full of pepper spray, detectives say.

Sheryl Huntley's common-law husband says he discharged a canister of pepper spray at the man, who was sitting in the back seat of the couple's Dodge Neon, detectives said.

The incident happened early July 1, when Stephen Harwood said a hitchhiker robbed him and Huntley.

Yakima County Sheriff's Chief of Detectives Stew Graham disclosed the information about the pepper spray in hopes that someone might have encountered the suspect while he was suffering from the irritant.

The initial release of Harwood's detailed description of the suspect has not prompted any major tips, Graham said.

He described the hitchhiker as Hispanic, probably around 20, about 5 feet, 6 inches and skinny. His head was shaved, with a longer bit of hair across the forehead, a scar over his left eye and a "sharp" jaw line. His nose may have been broken in the past. He was wearing a red bandanna, white T-shirt, navy blue Dickies pants and two diamond stud earrings.

Harwood told detectives he may have discharged as much as the entire can of pepper spray at the man. Evidence of pepper spray was found in the car, Graham said.

Harwood says they picked up the hitchhiker south of the Selah Creek rest area, north of Selah.

Although details are unclear, Harwood said he struggled with the man after the robbery, and several shots were fired by the hitchhiker. Huntley was shot in the head; Harwood suffered a gunshot to the hand.

After Harwood stopped the car, the man fled in an unknown direction.

Harwood said he entered Yakima on North First Street and began driving erratically to attract police attention because he was not sure where to find a hospital.

After turning around in Union Gap, he flagged down another motorist who agreed to lead him toward Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center. That person called police, who stopped Harwood at First and Walnut Avenue.

Huntley, a 40-year-old former Yakima resident, died that afternoon after being taken off life support at Yakima Regional.

The couple had been headed to Yakima from Thompson Falls, Mont. -- nearly three hours east of Spokane -- to pick up a relative and return with her to Montana, Graham said.

Despite the rarity of random homicides in Yakima County, detectives say they have not encountered inconsistencies in Harwood's account.

Investigators are waiting for reports from state evidence technicians who examined the car, Graham said.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.