August 23, 2007 in City

16-year-old boy shot in foot says it was accident

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A 16-year-old boy who was shot in the foot Wednesday morning at his Spokane Valley home told police the incident was an accident.

The victim, whose name was not released, told investigators that the shooter, 18-year-old Brandin Curtis Wheeldon, was showing him a stolen pistol when it discharged, sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Reagan said. Wheeldon reportedly ran away, and the victim made it to the front yard and called for help.

After 10:50 a.m., a neighbor called 911 and authorities responded to the 14400 block of East Mission. Nearly every on-duty officer combed the area for the suspect, Reagan said.

A motorcycle cop saw Wheeldon and arrested him in the 13500 block of East Broadway, Reagan said. Authorities unleashed a K-9 to search for the pistol, which was found down an embankment at 14200 East Mission.

The wounded boy was primarily injured in the left foot but also was hurt on the right. That led investigators to suspect that the bullet hit the floor first and fragmented, according to a Spokane Valley Police news release.

The boy was treated at Valley Hospital and Medical Center. His condition was unavailable because his name was not released.

Wheeldon faces charges of possession of stolen property, trafficking in stolen property and providing a firearm to a minor. The victim told police Wheeldon is his brother’s friend, the release states.

Gang detectives took over the investigation because Wheeldon told officers he is part of a gang in Arizona, according to the release.

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