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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane Valley deputies arrest man who allegedly shot ground near arguing couple’s feet

Spokane Valley sheriff’s deputies arrested a man for allegedly firing his gun into the asphalt near two people with whom he was arguing on Friday morning. Debris from the bullet striking the ground hit one of the victims, but she was not injured.

Deputies responded to a report of the shooting near the 5000 block of East Sprague Avenue around 6 a.m., according to a news release from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the victims told deputies that she was talking with someone in the parking lot near First Avenue when a man, later identified as 53-year-old Bernell L. Henderson, approached them.

Henderson allegedly threatened to go to his apartment and get his gun, and the victims ignored the threat, according to the news release.

Henderson left, returned a short time later with a handgun, and continued arguing with them.

Deputies say that Henderson fired the gun at the victim’s feet and that she was struck with debris from the shot hitting the ground.

Henderson allegedly fled in a vehicle.

Detectives identified Henderson as the suspect and discovered he is a convicted felon, making it illegal for him to possess a gun. They obtained a search warrant for his apartment, where they found ammunition.

Detectives also spoke to Henderson on the phone. Henderson said that he witnessed one of the victims, a male, assault the other victim, a female, so Henderson confronted them.

He retrieved his gun and confronted them again, but the man “ran up on him and he fired his pistol into the ground because he feared for his safety,” according to the news release.

Detectives arrested Henderson in front of his apartment at about 3:30 p.m.

Henderson reportedly told detectives he disassembled his gun and threw the pieces into a body of water and later agreed to show them where he threw the pieces.

The pistol had not been recovered as of Saturday morning, according to the news release.

Henderson was booked into the Spokane County Jail and faces charges for assault and illegally possessing a firearm.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office could not immediately be reached by The Spokesman-Review.