Four held in Valley home invasion

Spokane deputies arrested four men suspected in a Spokane Valley home invasion robbery, but a relative of two of the suspects says someone’s being untruthful.

Paul E. Statler, Robert Larson, Anthony Konghunji and Tyler Gassman were being held Thursday in Spokane County Jail, each on $500,000 bail.

Each is charged with first-degree robbery, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of first-degree drive-by shooting.

Statler’s father, Duane, asked Spokane County District Court Judge Sara Derr to lower his son’s bail because his son is enrolled in college and working. He said his son is innocent.

He said the same is true of his nephew, Larson.

“These charges came out of nowhere,” Duane Statler said.

Derr did not lower the bail.

The incident occurred April 21 at 1015 S. Dishman Road. Authorities said the suspects allegedly kicked in a door armed with guns, but never gained entry because the residents blocked them.

At least one person pointed a gun at a person in the home, authorities said.

Police said that when the suspects drove off, they fired bullets at the home and residents standing outside. No one was hurt.

The victims were unable to identify the suspects at the time of the incident, court records indicate.

The four men were arrested after Spokane detectives spoke with an unidentified juvenile who claimed to have been with them and who picked the foursome out of a photo montage.