Convicted Felon, Prohibited from Legally Possessing Firearms, Fires through his Apartment Wall and into Occupied Neighboring Apartment
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a shooting call at an apartment complex in the 9700 block of E. 6th Avenue in Spokane Valley. Through the investigation, the suspect was identified and found to be a convicted felon, prohibited from legally possessing a firearm. The suspect was arrested and charged with felony Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and six gross misdemeanor charges. The four victims, two adults and two juveniles, in the adjacent apartment, were not injured.
On January 24, 2023, at approximately 7:40 pm., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to an apartment complex in the 9700 block of E. 6th Avenue for the report of a bullet being fired through the victim’s apartment wall. The caller advised no one was injured, but her children were in the room where the shot traveled through.
Deputies noticed two males in the parking lot when they arrived. The unidentified males denied hearing a gunshot or knowing anything about the incident.
Deputies moved to the victim’s apartment and checked the four victims finding them uninjured but shaken. What appeared to be bullet holes were located in two walls of the apartment, indicating the direction of travel.
Additional Deputies contacted the occupant of the adjacent, identified as the suspect, 29-year-old Luis A. Garcia. After being advised of his rights, Garcia initially denied any knowledge of a shot being fired from his apartment. Garcia eventually admitted he was cleaning a friend’s firearm when the 9mm pistol inadvertently discharged toward the victim’s apartment. He claims he doesn’t know why the gun went off and didn’t touch the trigger, but he was holding the pistol when it went off. Garcia’s friend, who he could only identify by an alias, took the handgun and left the location. He admitted he is a convicted felon and knows he isn’t allowed to possess a firearm.
After Garcia was contacted in his apartment and identified as a suspect, Deputies recognized him as one of the males, who claimed to know nothing about a gunshot they had initially contacted in the parking lot.
A search warrant for Garcia’s apartment was sought and granted. During a search of the apartment, Deputies located ammo and other items associated with firearms, but a handgun was not found. A search of the trash and area around the apartments was unsuccessful.
Garcia was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1st Degree, a felony, and gross misdemeanors of Reckless Endangerment (four counts), Aiming/Discharging a Firearm, and Making False Statements.
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