Suspect at large in Skamokawa assault detained

The suspect who authorities say wounded three people in Skamokawa Wednesday night was detained Thursday.

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Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office reports he was taken into custody around 6 p.m.

Court records show the suspect is Daniel D. Downing, 32.

He lived at the home in the 300 block of East Valley Road where the assault occurred, according to the police report that led to his arrest.

Wahkiakum County deputies were dispatched to a report of the assault at 6:08 p.m. Wednesday.

An argument between Downing and the property owner preceded the attack in the home's driveway, according to the police report obtained through a records request.

The three victims intervened, but Downing reportedly went to his trailer, grabbed a rifle and hit the three with it.

Police report finding the broken stock of the firearm and its bolt at the scene.

A witness said Downing had a bloody mouth and told the victims they shouldn't have hit him first.

One victim was life-flighted, and the rest were sent by ambulance for medical care. One of the latter victims was later life-flighted to a different hospital.

One victim was also wheelchair-bound, the report states.

The search

Authorities did not immediately locate Downing, who the report says was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Florida in 2023.

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office K9, Pacific County's K9, Lewis County's K9, Washington State Patrol and a Longview Police Department drone were used in the search.

At about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Wahkiakum County Sheriff spokesperson Raedyn Grasseth told The Daily News that deputies, Washington State Patrol and Lower Columbia SWAT were at the address of the assault to apprehend the suspect.

Early Thursday, the department had received tips that Downing had returned to the property.

When authorities later arrived, he had barricaded himself inside, according to a Wahkiakum County Sheriff's Office notice released Friday.

Eventually, he was detained and booked into Wahkiakum County Jail.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information from a newly obtained public record.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 4:27 AM.