Hoopfest triggerman ordered to prison

The triggerman in the Hoopfest shooting last summer has been sentenced to nearly nine years in prison after previously pleading guilty. Miguel C. Garcia, 20, received a sentence of 105 months from Superior Court Judge Tari Eitzen on Tuesday. The sentence, which is just a couple months shy of nine years, comes mostly from weapons enhancements that were tacked onto the two second-degree assault convictions. Garcia pleaded guilty on Feb. 16 to opening fire on a rival gang member and injuring three bystanders in the downtown Spokane crowd. He pleaded to two counts of second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm. Garcia, Adam Doe, 19, Marquis D. Johnson, 22, and Rashjel C. “Reggie” Cage, 24, were all charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, 10 counts of attempted first-degree murder and single counts of riot and unlawful possession of a firearm. All four are gang members and were arrested June 26 after witnesses said Cage handed a gun to Garcia, who then fired three times. The victims all suffered minor wounds to the legs or feet. Two of the intended shooting victims, Kalen J. Bedford and Andre Conway, were members of a rival gang, police said. After complaints were raised about the initial charges, Deputy Spokane County Prosecutor Steve Garvin reduced the charges to five counts of first-degree assault and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, along with riot and firearms charges. Doe also was charged with third-degree assault after a Spokane police officer said the teen struggled violently when he was arrested with the gun used in the shooting. All of the other defendants have entered pleas. Garcia’s case was the last to be completed.