A 30-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court to a possibly gang-related shooting Jan. 26 at downtown Vancouver’s EconoLodge.
Angelino L. Pena was charged with second-degree attempted murder, with a weapons enhancement. The enhancement adds a mandatory five years to any prison sentence.
Pena’s trial is scheduled for June 10. His court-appointed attorney, Gregg Schile, plans to request a bail reduction before Judge David Gregerson on April 8.
Pena remains in custody in Clark County Jail on $500,000 bail.
The male victim, whose age and city of residence were not revealed in court records, was shot in the head but survived his injuries.
Pena and the victim reportedly know each other from an association with Vancouver’s Norteno street gang.
Pena is accused of shooting the victim with a semiautomatic firearm in Room 212 at the motel, 601 Broadway, after an argument over the victim’s cousin.
At least two other people were in the motel room at the time, including Elena Espinoza, who paid for the room, according to charging papers.
Another man was asleep at the time of the shooting and awoke to the blast of gunshots in the room, court records said. He saw the victim fall facedown, “motionless, with blood pooling around his face and head.”
Pena then told the witness to “scram.”
Court records indicate no one called 911 for 10 hours.
Espinoza, who eventually sought help for the victim, reportedly gave inconsistent stories about what happened. Vancouver police indicated in an affidavit that they believe she was trying to provide an alibi for Pena.
She was charged March 8 with rendering criminal assistance.
Pena has a significant criminal history, including assault with a deadly weapon, malicious mischief, harassment, robbery and weapons violations.
Paris Achen: 360-735-4551; http://twitter.com/Col_Courts; http://facebook.com/ColTrends; paris.achen@columbian.com.
