A man who allegedly held three people hostage at gunpoint inside an apartment and fired at responding Vancouver police officers appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court.
Cody C. Burris, 22, of Vancouver faces allegations of first-degree assault in connection with the early Thursday incident.
At about 12:15 a.m., police were called to a suspicious circumstance at an apartment at 2010 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. The caller, Nathan Howard, told them that he believed a man named Cody was holding two people hostage inside the apartment, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Howard said he went to the apartment and was confronted by the man, later identified by police as Burris, who pointed a firearm at him and told him to “get the … out.” A woman inside the apartment, Nicole Van Siclen, told Howard “Please help me,” he said, and he subsequently called 911, the affidavit states.
As officers approached the apartment, at least one shot was fired at them from inside the apartment, court records said. A SWAT unit responded and contained the area. Burris surrendered and was taken into custody.
No officers or citizens were injured.
The tenant, Adam Carter, told police that Burris threatened to kill him, pointed a firearm at his chest and ordered him out of the apartment. Van Siclen said that Burris pointed a firearm in her face, but she was able to escape from the apartment. A third person, Brandon Winders, also said that Burris pointed a firearm at him. He said he was afraid of being shot so he jumped out of the third-floor window, according to court documents.
Burris told officers that he fired the gun and then placed it in a freezer. In an interview with detectives, he said that he pointed the firearm at someone who jumped out of the apartment window and fired it toward a nearby fast food restaurant, the affidavit said.
Officers later found a 9mm pistol inside the apartment, court documents state.
During his hearing, Burris’ bail was set at $250,000. He will be back in court Tuesday, at which time his attorney will request a competency evaluation, court records show.
