Shooting suspect is no stranger to justice system

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.