Spokane Home Invader Shot

Spokane, Washington

From the March 30, 2009 Spokesman-Review:

A resident trying to protect himself during a home invasion shot and seriously wounded one of two invaders early Monday.

Spokane police said the man underwent surgery at a Spokane hospital for two handgun wounds to his abdomen, and the other suspect ran and remained at large Monday afternoon.

A woman living at the home in the 4100 block of East 16th Avenue called 911 about 2 a.m., reporting that two men had entered the house and that her male roommate was confronting them in another room. The call came in about the same time the roommate fired shots in the other room, said Officer Tim Moses, police spokesman.

Both of the suspects were armed, police said.

Police have been unable to provide a full description of the two suspects, both in their 20s.

Moses said police detectives plan to interview the injured man to learn more about the other suspect and the reason for the confrontation. The home where the shooting occurred was built about 2002 and, according to county records, is owned by a Chattaroy couple.

College students are renting the house, and they had not had any previous problems, the owner said.

UPDATE: A bit more detail about the suspects from the April 1, 2009 Spokane Spokesman-Review:

In 2002, Butler was sentenced to more than eight years in prison for a bank robbery that resulted in federal charges against a California gang member who worked with Butler and another man, according to previously public reports.

It’s unclear how long Butler was in prison in connection with the bank robbery. But records show he was sentenced in Kootenai County in early March to 10 days in jail or 32 hours in a county work program on one count of frequenting a home where a controlled substance is used.

Taylor, the other suspect, has criminal convictions dating back to 1996 in Pierce County, including charges of second-degree theft, third-degree assault, attempting to elude, and several drug charges. He served 10 days in jail in December after pleading guilty to escape from community custody, records show.