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

Man charged with attempted murder in East Central shooting

A man initially charged with assault for a shooting that led to a short SWAT standoff last Wednesday has now been charged with attempted murder.

Dustin Leonard, 25, was being held in Spokane County Jail as of Tuesday on $100,000 bond on charges of premeditated attempted murder.

Leonard allegedly assaulted and shot Hunter Dozier at Leonard’s home at 3226 E. Fifth Ave. in the early morning hours of Sept. 25.

After a night out, a group of people including Leonard and Dozier ended up back at the Fifth Avenue home, according to court documents.

Leonard had driven the group to a nearby casino but then left Dozier and friends without a ride back, a witness told police. The group got a ride back to Leonard’s house but Dozier blacked out on the ride back, the witness said.

When Dozier came to, he was being attacked and beaten with a wrench, court documents say.

One of Leonard’s roommates told police she heard “yelling and screaming” and sounds “like a fight was going on” coming from upstairs before Dozier came limping down the stairs.

Dozier then ran out of the house followed by Leonard, who shot at Dozier while he sat in the front seat of his car, court documents show.

The roommate heard a gunshot from outside and a male voice shout “just shot him,” according to court documents.

When questioned by police, Dozier was unwilling to identify his shooter and couldn’t remember details of what happened because he was “on Xanax.”

Dozier’s injuries were consistent with those caused by broken glass or metal fragments hitting the victim at a high speed, rather than by a bullet hitting him directly. He also had a head wound from a blunt object, according to court documents.

Dozier was able to drive away from the scene, hitting Leonard’s car in the process and disabling him from chasing after Dozier, according to court documents.

Leonard and a man only identified as “Junior” then threatened “the whole house” that there would be “serious repercussions” if anyone spoke to police, court documents show.

Dozier drove his car to his mother’s house, where he was discovered in the front seat covered in blood and taken to the hospital, according to witnesses.

The roommate told police they thought Leonard was on “Xanax” because of his volatile behavior and because he was “flying off the handle” at other house guests. They had also seen Leonard with a semi-automatic pistol a month prior to the incident.

Police found a bullet in the driver’s seat of Dozier’s vehicle.

Police executed a search warrant on Leonard’s home the evening of Sept. 25. Leonard hid from police initially but was arrested after a short standoff.