Man charged with assault after RV shooting

A man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly shot at an occupied motor home in south Spokane County.

Spokane County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested Steven D. Carpenter, 54, Thursday afternoon after the mobile home’s occupant, John Stone, called to report Carpenter was firing shots at him and his girlfriend, court documents say. The home is located in 200-block of East Justine Lane off U.S. Highway 195.

Shortly after a deputy and a Washington State Patrol trooper arrived on scene, Carpenter entered the home and began fighting with Stone, court documents say. Stone was able to wrestle Carpenter to the ground. The officers quickly entered the home and arrested Carpenter after a struggle. No one was injured.

Stone told a dispatcher that Carpenter was his neighbor and had recently threatened suicide, but he had no idea why Carpenter would be shooting at him or his girlfriend, court documents say. Investigators believe alcohol, drug use and possible mental health issues are involved in the shooting, the release said.

The officers were unable to locate a gun inside the motor home, but other deputies returned later with a search warrant, court documents say. They seized two revolvers, four rifles and two shotguns along with ammunition from the property, but the search warrant does not say who the guns belonged to.

Deputies also located one bullet on the carpet of the mobile home and a bullet hole in the window of the manufactured home next door, court documents say. Based on bullet trajectory, investigators believe Carpenter fired from inside the manufactured home, striking the mobile home. Deputies found a .22 revolver with one spent round in its cylinder in the manufactured home.

Stone’s son, Jack Stone, said he owns the property where his 73-year-old father lives and he believed Carpenter may have taken one of his guns.

The Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate and Carpenter may face additional charges. He’s being held one suspicion of first-degree assault in the Spokane County Jail on $250,000 bond.