Bail Set At $500,000 In Shooting Of 3-Year-Old

Bail has been set at $500,000 for a Tacoma man accused of firing shots that wounded a 3-year-old girl in both legs during a dispute over a car.

Vernon A. Pride, 30, pleaded innocent Monday in Pierce County Superior Court to a first-degree assault charge.

The girl’s mother and boyfriend told police that shortly after 7:30 a.m. Sunday they were awakened by a knock at their apartment door.

The boyfriend recognized the voice as someone with whom he had a dispute over money owed on a car, so neither he nor the mother answered the door, police said.

Soon afterward, shots were fired and one bullet struck the little girl in both of her legs.

The boyfriend directed officers to the home of the man with whom he had the dispute.

The child was released Monday evening from the hospital.