Spokane7
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June 29, 2010 in City
Hoopfest shots not ‘surprising’
But manager says park preps for major issues
The gang-related gunfire that left three bystanders wounded this weekend at Hoopfest was disturbing but not unexpected, authorities said Monday, adding that while security plans are being reviewed for Riverfront Park’s July 4th celebration the quick police response to Saturday’s violence should build community confidence.
“We’ve traditionally been prepared for major issues down here,” said Craig Butz, Riverfront Park manager. “In the unfortunate event something does happen I think they’d be in a position to respond very quickly.”
Officers had the suspects in Saturday’s shooting subdued within seconds. An off-duty detective witnessed the melee and stayed on the phone with 911 as she followed the suspects and as nearby on-duty officers swarmed the scene.
“It’s not necessarily surprising, unfortunately,” Officer Jennifer DeRuwe, spokeswoman for the Spokane Police Department, said of the Hoopfest gunfire. “We’re lucky that no lives were lost. Obviously these guys have no concern for the safety of others.”
Suspected gunman Miguel C. Garcia, 19, is to appear in court today on assault charges. He remains in jail with 19-year-old Adam Doe, who’s accused of unlawfully possessing the gun used in the shooting. Doe already is facing trial in September on assault charges for a gang-related stabbing outside a downtown Spokane nightclub in October, but was allowed to leave jail.
Two suspects, Tyrone Carell, 21, and Kalen Bedford, 19, are out of jail after being cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Carell was released from prison in February after serving about 15 months for four counts of second-degree assault.
A third man, Marquis Johnson, remains in custody on a probation violation. Johnson was released from prison June 7; he’d been there since April 2007 for two second-degree assault convictions stemming from a shooting in 2006 that didn’t injure anyone.
Saturday’s incident began when the men confronted a group of rival gang members sitting by a flower planter near a water fountain, according to witness reports included in a probable cause affidavit prepared by police.
A 17-year-old boy told police that one of the men who confronted the group said “we are going to do this,” pulled a gun and “fired two or three shots.”
Two of those shots hit best friends Lexus T. Harding, 19, and Kara L. Meyer, 22.
A third bullet grazed Eric B. Androes. None of the victims knew the suspects or was involved in the confrontation, police said.
“We were just talking and all of sudden this guy fell in front of us,” Harding said. The two moved about 10 feet away. “Then I looked over and I was like ‘Oh my gosh he has a gun,’ ” Harding said. “That’s when the gunshots went off.”
Harding was shot in the lower right leg; Meyer was shot in her left foot. Both were released from Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center Saturday night and are recovering well.
They’re thankful for the support they’ve received but remain spooked by the incident.
“You would never expect something like that to happen in broad daylight at a huge event like that,” Harding said.
The shooting occurred a few feet from off-duty Spokane police Detective Stacey Carr, who told investigators she “sensed a commotion” and saw a man later identified as Garcia holding a gun and pointing toward a crowd.
“The defendant swung his hand back around to the north and his hand passed in front of her face,” according to a probable cause affidavit. “As it did so, she saw what appeared to be a tiny two-barreled gun.” Carr called 911 and followed the men.
Carr pointed the men out to an officer who approached Doe and saw him throw a silver gun onto Howard Street. Doe first denied tossing the gun but said he’d thrown the weapon and his cell phone after police said they had video of the shooting, according to the affidavit. Detectives seized the gun as evidence.
Police say Doe begged them not to take him to jail because he’d already been released from there on the condition he didn’t possess firearms. In a separate interview with police, suspected triggerman Garcia told detectives Doe was the shooter.
Garcia has a previous conviction for second-degree assault, which means he’s prohibited from possessing weapons.
Doe does not have a felony conviction, but he’s charged with two counts of first-degree assault and one count of riot for an Oct. 28 stabbing outside Club Uno, 515 W. Sprague Ave., that injured Kenneth R. Budik and Charles L. Lucious. Budik was a victim in a shooting in 2007 that killed gang member Adama Walton.
A no-bail warrant was issued Monday for Doe for violating his release conditions in the Uno stabbing. He remains in jail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm. He also faces a third-degree assault charge after allegedly removing a handgun from his pocket and tossing it in the street when approached by police Saturday. Garcia is jailed on three counts of first-degree assault.
Both men are to appear in Spokane County District Court today.
Human trafficking suspects released 
JetBlack on June 29 at 5:41 a.m.
Looks like the safest person to be, is the guy that retard is shooting at. It’s the one person he’s guaranteed not to hit.
This is his second shoot-n-miss incident? “Let’s do this” Sounds like first degree attempted murder.
tigerwatts on June 29 at 7:03 a.m.
I watched the melee afterwards, although I didn’t hear the shots. I did see the wounds as I walked by, however. I’d be happy to help police if they need any, although it sounds like they’ve got it pretty well settled.
From my point of view, and I was right the middle of it, it was absolutely incredible how quickly the police reacted. The fight afterward didn’t last long and it sounds like all suspects are in custody.
I am not usually someone that applauds our police department, but in this case, their reaction was quick and precise. In that crowded situation, they saved what could have been a horrific situation.
lewis8457 on June 29 at 8:17 a.m.
big brother has cameras all over the place plus the cop on the grassy knoll with the camera, How much security is needed?
i never go to riverfront park after the 4th of July police riot i have several unwatched parks close to me why waste the gas?
kennyhuston on June 29 at 1:19 p.m.
I hear you on that one Lewis. After the July 4th debacle the Riverfront Park attractions, namely Pig-out-in-the-park, will never see my $ again. I actually entertained the idea of kickin’ back at Riverfront and having some fine cuisine on my patriotic blanket of choice. Then I woke up ! ! ! I thought to myself - oh yeah, right - one sip from a 20 fl. oz. Pepsi is all the provocation needed for the SPD to bash my brains with a billyclub, tazer me, hog-tie me and restrict my breathing resulting in my death. Without a second thought, maybe I’ll see you at one of those “safe” parks after all Lewis!
Coffee on June 29 at 3:14 p.m.
Any one have a link to a site that has all the gangs that are operating in Spokane and their signs, all so what parts of the city they claim as their own?
Orange on June 29 at 3:19 p.m.
SpokVegas strikes again. Ya’ll got to be proud.
lewis8457 on June 30 at 8:44 a.m.
March 18, 2007
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=9182
According to the Spokane Police Department’s Gang Enforcement Team, there are 7,000 gang associates and 900 gang members in Spokane
There may be as many as 7,000 “gang associates” – young people who aren’t documented gang members but who are trying to act like them.
Police say, the number of confirmed gang members in Spokane has risen by 350, to more than 900 members representing some 50 gangs.
That is 18 people per gang.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/04/1212545/spokane-hostility-between-2-gang.html
Police say most of the men are members of a Compton, Calif.-based gang
http://www.knowgangs.com/news/feb07/0225.php
26 percent of Spokane County Jail is populated by gang members incarcerated for crimes ranging from drug dealing to violent assault, and there is an increasing number of street gang members migrating to the area.
no other current info about number of gangs………ODD
Orange on June 30 at 4:30 p.m.
Looks like we need to focus our resources on gangs not race tracks