A Vancouver teenager accused of shooting another teen during a drug deal made his first appearance Thursday on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree robbery.
Damian R. Grover, 17, was remanded to adult court, appearing before Clark County Superior Court Judge John Nichols.
The judge set bail at $750,000 and appointed attorney Gerry Wear to represent him.
Deputy Prosecutor Michael Dodds told Nichols that the 19-year-old victim, Daniel Thurston, was shot in the spine and is paralyzed from the neck down. He was listed in critical condition Thursday at Southwest Washington Medical Center.
“The spine severed at the sixth and seventh vertebrae and he is unable to move,” Dodds said.
Court documents also reveal that Thurston suffered damage to his carotid artery.
As he heard the details of the injury and the deputy prosecutor’s request for bail, Grover started crying.
After speaking with Grover briefly, Wear told the judge that his client has never been convicted of a felony, but has a juvenile record that includes convictions for marijuana possession, malicious mischief and criminal trespass.
The shooting was reported at 8:51 p.m. Tuesday at the Parklane Apartments, 10205 N.E. Notchlog Drive.
According to court documents, friends of Grover told sheriff’s investigators that they had planned to meet Thurston at Sacajawea Elementary School, 700 N.E. 112th St., to obtain marijuana. After meeting up with Thurston, Grover arranged to meet him later at his apartment complex, the Parklane Apartments, to pay him for the drugs.
When Thurston arrived at the apartment complex, Grover allegedly brandished a revolver and ordered Thurston to hand over his backpack and marijuana. After Thurston refused, Grover allegedly fired the gun at him and fled, according to court documents.
Another friend of Grover’s allegedly told investigators that the group planned on robbing Thurston of the marijuana and that Grover obtained a .44- or .45-caliber handgun from a family friend to commit the holdup.
Sheriff’s Detective Kevin Harper said no other arrests have been made in the case, but the investigation is ongoing.
Grover, who at one point attended Columbia River High School, as did Thurston, was listed as unemployed in court documents.
His arraignment was set for Nov. 4.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
