RSSShooting suspect is no stranger to justice system
Arrested man acquitted of attempted murder in trial last monthYakima Herald-Republic
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- The suspect in a Thursday morning drive-by shooting that left one person with a head wound was acquitted last month of an attempted murder charge in a Toppenish shooting.
Chad Edward Duncan, 19, was arrested by Yakima police on suspicion of five counts of first-degree assault shortly after the shooting was reported about 12:45 a.m. Thursday in the 300 block of Cherry Avenue.
Two passengers in the car with Duncan said he was passing the house when he grabbed a pistol and opened fire, according to a police report. His motive was unclear.
Five people, including the 19-year-old gunshot victim, were in the house.
Police said a single bullet passed through a picture window and then glanced off the side of the victim's head. The wound was not considered life-threatening.
People in the house described a white car at the scene, and patrol officers stopped a white Ford Taurus nearby with Duncan at the wheel, according to a police report.
Although police officials described Duncan as an admitted gang member, they said the Yakima shooting did not appear related to his gang involvement.
A pistol and multiple shell casings were found on the car's front floorboards, officers said.
In spring, Duncan was on trial in Yakima County Superior Court for allegedly shooting a youth, who police said was a rival gang member, on the morning of June 5, 2008.
The victim was walking to the Toppenish alternative high school with two other students when he was shot in the back. Authorities alleged Duncan was the driver.
His defense attorney told jurors the prosecutors offered no proof Duncan was the shooter, that it was coincidental he resembled the driver described by witnesses.
When the jury returned its verdict, Duncan hugged sobbing family members.
"We believe we had the right shooter," Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ken Ramm said after the trial.
The 16-year-old who was shot did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
The case was dismissed with prejudice after the verdict, meaning Duncan can't be retried on those charges.
Also Thursday, Yakima police were investigating an unrelated drive-by shooting in the 700 block of South Eighth Street that occurred shortly before midnight Wednesday.
Not only is this guy not a gang member, he's got bad aim and a rock solid defense he can recycle for this case.
Report ViolationSeems to me that "sweet justice" returns to even the score with him. he is obviously a bad dude and he should be put away as a menace for his dangerous behavior before he actually succeeds in killing someone.
Report ViolationYeah yah think NIck...? and he isn't hispanic..well there goes your theory Nick,not all gang members in Yakima are hispanic.
Report ViolationI read a post to the first article on this shooting that "the hispanic community should be ashamed" funny how no one responds when the guilty parties name is Chad Edward and not Jose or Miguel. Now I wonder if the caucasian community ashamed?
Report ViolationGang members whether white, black, hispanic or asian, it doesn't matter. They are all worthless and deserve the fate they get, either death in the streets or prison. They deserve no sympathy and you guys need to drop the race thing. Gangs are the problem, I don't discriminate, I hate all gang members equally.
Report ViolationFool our courts once, shame on you. Fool the courts twice, shame on them.
Report ViolationYou know whats sad about this? Is that Chad thinks that this gang is his family. THat he will die, fight or do whatever to back them up.. But who backs Chad up when he's on trial? For dang sure it isnt the gang. It's his real family. The ones that made it possible to be breathing. The grandparents that watched him play with their other grandchildren. His syblings that have dealt with this half of Chad's life. Chad's aunts and uncles that hate seeing their syblings going through with this with their child. His cousins who used to play with him, or noticed when he was gone at family get togethers. THose are the ones that were there, at the trial or when he'd screw up but they lovingly were supporting either him or his parents. He crapped on all of that. And couldnt just do one thing to keep out of trouble and get the chance to run a normal life and give everyone piece of mind we didnt have to deal with this anymore.. I dont know maybe he enjoys the crappy food in there and the awesome outfits oh and the really cool friends you get to meet and the isolation from everything that has ever CARED FOR YOU.I hope someday he see's his little homies werent really his friends or family.. No one who makes you try to hurt another human being is anyone who really cares for you.. Wow and on the subject of gangs i dont get them for the life of me. They get mad when someone where's the wrong color? Seriously? So like the ones of us that dont want to get shot should we wear beige? Like who is anyone to say what color any one wears? Oh and dont go on certain streets if you dont want to get shot? Wow how do they remember all that? Ok cant go on that street and wear this color. Thats just alot of effort for something not that important. And then let's just retaliate till everyone's dead? Maybe it's just me but if someone beats my sisters boyfriends cousins siter up wow i'm really sorry but that's their business why anyone would feel the need to retaliate and then jeopradize their freedom is really a huge question to me. I dont know maybe it's just me.. I wish Chad would have learned the first or maybe that was the second time cuz when it was the time where he needed his "friends" they werent there and i know they wont be this time either. But he sure did crap on the ones that were.. So i now his REAL family can know they really did what they could in every way possible but you just cant change someone who doesnt want it even if in the end it hurts the ones who care the most...
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