A man accused of firing a gun at an occupied vehicle at a Vancouver gas station earlier this week appeared in Clark County Superior today to face charges of attempted murder.
Edgar Thomas Quezada-Macias, 25, made his first court appearance on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and first- and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge David Gregerson set bail at $400,000 in the case.
Vancouver police said that officers were called to the Chevron fuel station convenience store at 13707 N.E. 28th St., around 1:40 a.m. Tuesday for a reported shooting.
They didn’t find any victims, but did recover five .40 caliber shell casings near one of the gas pumps, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in support of charges.
Officers interviewed witnesses and found the victim, who had driven two people to the convenience store, according to the affidavit.
According to court documents, police learned that the victim was walking into the store when a man later identified as Quezada-Macias started walking toward him in the parking lot carrying a handgun.
The victim ran back to his vehicle and locked the door, and Quezada-Macias approached the driver’s window and demanded that he exit the vehicle, the affidavit states.
He drove off and heard several gunshots and noticed later that his vehicle had been struck by bullets, according to court record.
Investigators confirmed the story through video surveillance and identified Quezada-Macias as a suspect and learned that he had been arrested later the same day by the Portland Police Bureau.
When detectives interviewed Quezada-Macias, he denied being involved in the shooting. When asked if he was trying to kill the driver of the vehicle, he replied, “’If I had wanted to kill the kid, I would have,’” according to the probable cause affidavit.
Quezda-Macias has a criminal history including attempted second-degree burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle, the document states.
He is next scheduled to appear in court Monday, when he will be arraigned and bail will be discussed.