Police arrested a Vancouver man Wednesday in connection with a fatal fight in November at the Vancouver Plaza shopping center.
Nathan J. Hernist, 29, was booked into the Clark County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. But Deputy Prosecutor Kelly Ryan asked a judge to release Hernist while prosecutors review surveillance footage and police continue their investigation.
Court records identify the victim as Shawn Robert Fernandez but do not list his age or city of residence.
Investigators said that at 11 a.m. Nov. 10, Hernist was in the east parking lot behind Target at 7809 Vancouver Plaza Drive. He appeared to be near Fernandez’s vehicle before walking away toward Target, according to court records.
Fernandez then approached Hernist with an object officers said looked like a sledgehammer. The two struggled, and Hernist gained control of the sledgehammer. Hernist then repeatedly hit Fernandez in the head, neck and shoulders with the sledgehammer, according to court records.
Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said investigators were notified Nov. 20 that Fernandez died from his injuries at a hospital.
Shortly after the fight, patrol officers contacted Hernist near the SeaMar clinic at 7803 N.E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Hernist matched the description provided by witnesses. Police said Hernist denied being in a fight and asked several times why he was being stopped. Officers said Hernist did not appear to have any injuries, and he told them he’d just come from a nearby convenience store, court records state.
Investigators obtained surveillance video from nearby businesses. On it, they said, Fernandez can be seen walking with a sledgehammer before he swings it at someone or something. Officers can’t see anything on the footage for a few seconds until they see a struggle, followed by a man they say is Hernist swinging an instrument. A different camera captured Hernist emerge from under an awning and walk away, according to court records.
An autopsy found Fernandez suffered numerous bruises to his head, right shoulder and right arm caused by blunt force trauma. He also suffered a skull fracture and brain bleeding, court records state.
