SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley Deputies arrested the second suspect involved in the Dishman Hills recreational area shooting that took place Thursday.
According to the police statement, Spokane Valley Deputies arrested 21-year-old Joel A. Young, the second suspect in the Dishman Hills recreational area, where fired shots were reported on Thursday afternoon. Young had a history of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.
On Thursday, deputies responded to reports of shots fired in the Dishman Hills recreational area off Appleway Blvd. in Spokane Valley. After detaining one suspect, they began searching for Young. The detained suspect told deputies that he and Young were target shooting toward the road.
Several bullets were found nearby, according to Washington State Patrol (WSP).
Since Dishman Hills is a recreational area used daily by hikers and bikers and is designated as a no-shooting area, an extensive search to locate the suspects responsible was conducted.
As deputies worked to locate Young, they learned that he was a convicted felon and was prohibited from legally possessing a gun.
After an investigation, deputies learned that Young stole the gun he fired in the Dishman Hills area from a family member and returned it after fleeing from deputies.
Deputies contacted a woman who initially denied having been in contact with Young, but admitted to it soon after.
According to a statement from police, Young had two no-contact orders that prohibited him from being within 500 feet of the family member’s home and from coming within 1000 feet of the woman.
Deputies had phone communication with Young, who lied multiple times about his location, claiming to love the cat and mouse game. He continually bragged about not being caught and claimed he would commit suicide if police found him.
After deputies received information of the location of Young, they arrested him in the area of E. 16th Ave. and E. Saltese Rd. without incident.
Young was transported to the Spokane County Jail for charges including first-degree burglary, firearm theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of violation of a no contact order, reckless endangerment and aiming or discharging firearms.