Arrest warrant issued in West Central shooting

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man in connection with a north Spokane shooting Monday morning.

Forest J. Shields will face a charge of attempted first-degree murder, court records say.

The man who was shot lived in the Daniels Apartments, 525 W. Sinto Ave., and was outside in the parking lot when he talked with the driver of a pickup, according to court documents. The driver, identified as Shields, reportedly shot the victim once in the shoulder and neck area.

There are surveillance cameras in the parking lot and police were able to see the shooting unfold. Another resident of the apartments identified the driver as Shields, also known by the street name “Face.”

The truck Shields was driving was found in the 2500 block of West Gardner Avenue later that day, and police obtained a warrant to search it.

The passenger inside the truck at the time of the shooting was located and interviewed by police. He said he met Shields in the parking lot to buy marijuana from him but Shields wouldn’t do it there because of the cameras, according to court documents. The man got inside the truck so the two could drive around the corner. He told police that Shields then got in an argument with the victim and shot him, court documents say.

It appears Shields and the victim knew each other.

Shields has a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple convictions for attempting to elude a police vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.