SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.-- Spokane Valley Detectives arrested a convicted felon Friday morning after one man was injured when the suspect allegedly fired a handgun into the asphalt.
Just after 6 a.m. Friday, Spokane Valley deputies responded to a report at E. Sprague about a man shooting at a victim, Spokane Valley Police said. The female victim told deputies that the suspect, later identified as Bernell L. Henderson, 53, approached her and the man with her while they were talking the parking lot off 1st Ave., according to Spokane Valley Police.
The victim told deputies the suspect threatened to go back to his apartment and get a gun, Spokane Valley Police said. The victims ignored the threat, but the suspect did go to his home and retrieved a semi-automatic pistol, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department.
The victim told deputies the suspect then pointed the gun at them and fired it into the asphalt near the female victim’s feet, Spokane Valley Police said. The woman said she was struck by flying debris from the bullet hitting the ground, according to Spokane Valley Police.
Spokane Police said the suspect allegedly fled the area after the incident. Major Crimes Detectives responded to the scene to continue the investigation.
A check of Henderson’s name revealed he is a convicted felon, who is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition, according to Spokane Valley Police.
Investigators obtained a warrant for Henderson’s apartment on E. 1st Ave., Spokane Valley Police said. Spokane Valley Police say investigators found two boxes of .45 caliber ammunition during their search.
Investigators spoke with Henderson on the phone later Friday, Spokane Valley Police said. Spokane Valley Police said Henderson told them he confronted a man outside his apartment when he saw the man assault a woman.
Henderson told investigators that he retrieved his gun from his apartment and confronted the man again. Henderson claimed the man lunged at him and he fired his pistol into the ground because he feared for the man’s safety, Spokane Valley Police said.
Henderson also told investigators that both he and the man he shot at fled the scene after he fired, according to the Spokane Valley Police Department. Around 3:30 p.m., detectives contacted Henderson and arrested him in front of his apartment.
Henderson told detectives he disassembled his pistol and threw the pieces in a lake or river, according to Spokane Valley Police. He initially agreed to show detectives where he disposed of the gun, but he would not waive his rights and requested an attorney, the Spokane Valley Police Department said.
Spokane Valley Police say the gun has not been recovered. Henderson was booked into the Spokane County Jail for second degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree.
