A man accused of a racially motivated attack in Vancouver’s Rose Village neighborhood April 6 has been charged with attempted murder.
Zachery L. Hotchkins, 22, of Vancouver was arrested April 9 on suspicion of first-degree assault and malicious harassment. However, Deputy Prosecutor Dan Gasperino charged him with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and malicious harassment, which is a hate crime, according to court records. All three charges have firearm enhancements, which increases his potential prison time should Hotchkins be convicted.
Gasperino said he did not file charges against Hotchkins’ alleged accomplice, Robert E. Mitchell IV, 18, of Vancouver because of a need for further investigation.
Hotchkins is accused of attempting to shoot the victim, Matthew Boorujy, 30, early on April 6 and then beating him with the butt of the weapon when it wouldn’t fire. Hotchkins is black; Boorujy is white.
Gasperino said the victim was called a “cracker” multiple times during the assault. That’s a racial slur referring to a white person.
The victim was treated at Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center April 6 and released the same day, according to a hospital spokesperson. He received stitches and staples on his face and head and has blurred vision in his left eye from his injuries, Vancouver police Officer Tom Topaum wrote in a court affidavit.
Hotchkins remains in the Clark County Jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges April 24.
Boorujy was walking his dog at about 4 a.m. in the 1800 block of East 32nd Street, near Washington Elementary School, when he was attacked, according to court records.
Often referred to as a hate crime, malicious harassment is when a person causes physical injury to a person because of the victim’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability, according to state law.
During an interview with Topaum, Hotchkins allegedly confessed to pointing a loaded gun at Boorujy and pulling the trigger.
Boorujy also was a victim in a Sept. 18 assault in Rose Village, according to court records.
