Report: Cousin of accused teen bully involved in shooting outside Kelso home
The adult victim of the April 2 shooting at a home near a Kelso school and children's museum had previously confronted a suspect's 14-year-old cousin about bullying a kid in the neighborhood, new court records show.
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A warrant was issued on April 17 for the shooting suspect, Alberto Vasquez Valencia, 25, of Longview, in the drive-by that occurred across the street from Kelso Virtual Academy and the Children's Discovery Museum.
Bail for the suspected getaway driver, Carlos Armondo Rodriguez, Jr., 25, of Longview, was set at $50,000 on Monday afternoon, though Cowlitz County Superior Court prosecuting attorneys requested his bail be twice that amount.
Confronting accused bullies
The 35-year-old victim told police the mother of the bullied teen asked him to talk to the bullies, according to court records.
He told the 14-year-old and other kids near the same age on April 2 to leave the other neighborhood kid alone, the 14-year-old told police.
The 14-year-old also said the victim had a gun, but the victim denies this.
The victim told police he spoke with the parents of the accused bullies, with the 14-year-old present, and did not have a weapon.
The shooting
The suspects showed up around 10 p.m. the same day at the scene of the shooting in the 400 block of Long Avenue. The home is an apartment building that looks like a single-family house.
Police obtained footage of the incident on nearby cameras.
Valencia is seen patting an area around his waist, where police believe a gun was held, and knocking on the apartment door with no answer.
One of the suspects also confronts a man smoking nearby, saying, "Are you banging on little kids, bro? You banging on my little cousin, bro?" according to the police report, but that man had nothing to do with the situation.
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Footage shows the suspects returning minutes later in a red Dodge Durango SUV with a loud exhaust, blocking a red minivan in the driveway.
The victim later told police that he and his sister were ready to back out when the Dodge stopped them.
When the victim exits the minivan, the 14-year-old yells, "That's him right there," police say, according to the footage.
The victim steps in front of his sister and girlfriend, holding what police call a pepper ball launcher, the report states. However, the victim later told The Daily News his girlfriend wasn't there.
Once Valencia shoots, Valencia and Rodriguez flee in the SUV, and the victim's sister drives him toward PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, according to the footage, police report.
He was later life flighted to a trauma center in Portland.
Charges
Valencia is charged with unlawful display of a weapon, first-degree assault with a firearm enhancement, and drive-by shooting.
Rodriguez is charged with first-degree felony rendering criminal assistance, fourth-degree assault, and unlawful display of a weapon.
After Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Thad Scudder set his bail on Monday, Rodriguez was released.
Rodriguez has a hearing scheduled for May 11, and a public defender has been appointed to represent him.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more information from the victim.
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