SWAT officers arrest shooting suspect at home near crime scene

SWAT officers on Thursday afternoon arrested a 15-year-old Vancouver boy for allegedly shooting a man and woman at 4213 N.E. 38th St. late Saturday night.

The teen, whose name was not immediately available, was arrested about 4:40 p.m. Thursday and was taken to the juvenile detention center on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder, 11 counts of attempted robbery and one count of first-degree burglary, according to a bulletin released late Thursday night by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Tips, generated Wednesday by media accounts of a $1,000 reward offered in the case, led to the arrest by detectives with the sheriff’s Major Crime and Tactical Detective units, the bulletin said.

The shootings occurred about 11:40 p.m. Saturday at the home on 38th Street, just north of state Highway 500 and east of St. Johns Boulevard.

Cory S. Bloom was shot in his hip and thigh and Sarah A. Godfrey was shot in her leg. Both are about 22 years old and were treated for injuries at a local hospital.

Sheriff’s deputies said the two victims were part of a small group of friends at a gathering. The suspect allegedly entered the home unannounced, threw a duffel bag onto the floor, fired one gunshot and retreated outside. Someone inside, fearing the bag contained a bomb, threw it back outside through the front door, at which point the suspect allegedly fired several more gunshots toward the front door, injuring Bloom and Godfrey.

The gunman, his face covered by a surgical or painter’s mask, had been driven to the home and was driven away. The shooting appears to be a crime of opportunity and officers said they have no more suspects. They did not say what the suspect allegedly sought in the attempted robbery.

Police arrested the suspect at his home near the shooting scene, said sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Roberts.

John Branton: 360-735-4513 or john.branton@columbian.com.