Confrontation in north Spokane leads to drive-by shooting arrests
Spokane police arrested two men accused of participating in a drive-by shooting early Sunday in north Spokane.
Following reports of a drive-by shooting, officers pulled over a car that matched a description given by witnesses. On Monday, officers obtained a search warrant that found three handguns and a rifle in the car, police said.
Arrested Sunday were Andrew Buchanan and Chantz Piper, both 21. Each was booked into the Spokane County Jail on four counts of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting. Buchanan also was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm because of an earlier conviction.
The incident started at about midnight on Saturday when officers responded to a fight at a residence in the 2400 block of North Atlantic Street, Spokane Police Cpl. Teresa Fuller said in a news release.
Some two hours later, officers responded to the same location on the report of a shooting, Cpl. Ron Van Tassel said in a news release.
“The residence had several bullet holes in it, but nobody inside was hit,” Van Tassel said. “The victims indicated that this was a retaliation from the earlier call. The victims gave a vehicle description of the suspects.”
A short time after the shooting call, officers observed a vehicle in the area of Cannon Street and Buckeye Avenue. They stopped the vehicle, which matched a description given by witnesses, and arrested Buchanan and Piper.
According to newspaper archives, Buchanan pleaded guilty last March to attempting to elude a police officer and failure to remain at the scene of an accident-injured person and vehicular assault. Superior Court Judge Raymond Clary sentenced Buchanan to serve 22 days in jail.
On Monday, officers obtained a warrant to search the vehicle that Buchanan and Piper had been riding in, and the officers discovered three handguns and the rifle. One of the guns had been listed as stolen, Fuller said.
“As the investigation continues, more charges are likely for each of the defendants,” Fuller said.