SPOKANE, Wash. — The man accused of shooting his wife and stepdaughter in Airway Heights was arrested in Pierce County, police said.
In a press release Thursday afternoon, Airway Heights Police Sergeant Jacob Keith said Zion Carter was arrested for his outstanding warrants related to the shooting and is in custody in Pierce County. According to the Pierce County Jail website, he was booked into jail at 4:08 p.m. Thursday on two counts of attempted murder and his bond is set at $1.5 million.
Pierce County Sheriff's Sergeant Darren Moss said Carter turned himself into the department. He walked into a secure area, a deputy asked him if he needed help and Carter told him he needed to turn himself in, Moss explained. When the deputy asked him what he was wanted for, he told him attempted murder, Moss said.
He was extradited to Spokane County Friday evening, according to Moss.
According to the search warrant, Carter is married to the 35-year-old mother and is the stepfather of the 11-year-old girl.
Police were called to the home on South Aspen Street in Airway Heights early Tuesday morning.
In an interview with investigators, documents say the girl told police that she heard her mom and stepdad arguing before hearing gunshots. She said she went upstairs and saw Carter with a gun, documents say. The girl turned and ran before Carter shot at her, according to documents. According to the warrant, one deputy said the stepdaughter reported being shot in the chest, while another says she reported being shot in the back.
Court documents say the girl ran to a neighbor’s house for help and they called 911. Deputies who responded to the scene saw a trail of blood leading out of the home, documents said. The girl’s mother was found with two gunshot wounds to the chest, according to documents.
Investigators also reviewed a neighboring Ring doorbell camera video showing Carter entering the home around 3:30 a.m. and the girl running to the neighbor’s house about 10 minutes later, documents say.
According to the victims' father and grandfather, as of Tuesday evening both of them are awake and alert. He said he's been at the hospital since about 6 a.m. He said his daughter suffered gunshot wounds and his granddaughter was grazed by at least one bullet.
According to the Washington Department of Corrections, Zion has a criminal history that includes two counts of robbery, two counts of assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, taking a motor vehicle without owner’s permission and custodial assault.