Suspects in attempted homicide to be tried together

Three Spokane residents charged in connection with an attempted homicide in April appeared in court Thursday and were ordered to stand trial together.

The suspects, two of whom fled to California before being arrested, face felony charges in connection with the April 9 shooting outside of 8909 N. Colton.

Ivan R. Abramchuk, 22, and 17-year-old Yelena V. Peregudova both face two counts each of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Misha V. Martynenko, 19, also is charged with first-degree assault in connection with the shooting, according to court documents.

All three suspects appeared Thursday before Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno who set their trial for Jan. 22.

According to police records, Peregudova had been a longtime friend of Anna Semenikhin, who is married to Pavel Zubarev.

Sometime before the incident, Zubarev told Peregudova to stay away from his wife because she was pregnant, and Zubarev did not want her hanging around Peregudova’s friends because of their criminal lifestyles.

Despite Zubarev’s wishes, Peregudova tried repeatedly to contact Semenikhin, according to court records. Zubarev confronted Peregudova at 7 p.m. on April 9, and words were exchanged.

Then about two and a half hours later, Zubarev, Semenikhin and her brother Nikolay Semenikhin were visiting a park across Colton Street when they were approached by Abramchuk, Peregudova and a man later identified as Martynenko.

Abramchuk “pulled out a black colored semiautomatic pistol and pointed it at Zubarev,” according to court records. “He accused Zubarev of disrespecting his girlfriend by calling her names.”

At about the same time, according to witnesses, Peregudova lunged at Anna Semenikhin and began pulling her hair. Abramchuk then pointed the gun at Anna Semenikhin and fired a shot that missed, according to court records.

“Zubarev said he lunged at the suspect in an attempt to grab the gun. A second shot was fired, and Zubarev was struck in the chest,” according to court records.

The suspects then reportedly fled on foot. Zubarev, who has since recovered, identified Abramchuk and Peregudova through a photo lineup. Investigators later learned the identity of Martynenko who was arrested within a few days.

However, Peregudova and Abramchuk fled Spokane, and officials believed they were headed to California.

They remained on the lam until Abramchuk was arrested Sept. 14 in Rocklin, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento, Spokane police Officer Teresa Fuller said. He was transported back to Spokane by agents with the U.S. Marshals Service.

Peregudova was arrested sometime in October in North Highlands, Calif., also a suburb of Sacramento.

Since Peregudova is a juvenile, Spokane police had to travel to North Highlands on Oct. 23 to bring her back to face the charges, Fuller said.