A 17-year-old boy is accused of shooting at a large group of people and wounding a man during a fight Sunday night in the parking lot of the Clark County Family YMCA in east Vancouver.
The victim was identified in court records as 21-year-old Jonathan Alpet. The Vancouver Police Department said Alpet suffered not life-threatening wounds.
Dekson Fred of Vancouver appeared Monday via Zoom in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of first-degree assault, drive-by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm. He appeared to have a bandage on his arm.
Judge Jennifer Snider set his bail at $350,000, and he is scheduled to be arraigned June 26.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Ikata said Fred has prior convictions for second-degree robbery and attempting to elude pursing police.
Vancouver police officers, Clark County sheriff’s deputies and Washington State Patrol troopers responded at about 9:20 p.m. to the 11300 block of Northeast 51st Circle for reports of a disturbance.
Multiple people called 911 to report there was a loud argument in the parking lot, followed by gunshots and people screaming. People also reported seeing a silver sedan speed away from the scene, according to a probable cause affidavit.
As one officer arrived, they saw a sedan speeding away, honking and driving recklessly. The officer noted there were 60 to 70 people in the parking lot, and they found several spent 9 mm shell casings. There was also a bullet hole in the windshield of a pickup, court records state.
An 11-year-old boy said he was inside the YMCA when Fred called him an anti-gay slur. The boy’s uncle heard Fred and struck him with his elbow, the affidavit states.
In the parking lot, the boy said Fred was still upset about the incident. The boy’s relative, Alpet, told Fred to calm down, and Fred got into the backseat of a silver sedan, court records state.
As the sedan drove away from the lot, Fred pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Alpet. Vancouver police said someone drove Alpet to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center as officers were arriving, according to the affidavit.
While police were securing the scene and interviewing witnesses, another fight broke out. Officers used force to detain three people, some of whom were juveniles who had firearms, court records state. Vancouver police said a 16-year-old boy was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Officers then responded to the 4900 block of Northeast Plomondon Street for reports of a disturbance between Fred and his mother. She reportedly told police her son was involved in the shooting. After officers and SWAT surrounded the residence, Fred walked out and was arrested without incident, according to the affidavit.
Police noted the investigation is ongoing, and there were several witnesses who were not included in the affidavit. They said the shooting was also captured on YMCA surveillance footage.
YMCA leadership did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
