Judge sets bail at $100,000 for man accused of stabbing another man in downtown Vancouver
A Clark County Superior Court judge on Wednesday ordered $100,000 bail for a homeless man accused of stabbing another homeless man at a downtown Vancouver encampment Tuesday.
Kaden Griffin, 19, appeared on an allegation of first-degree assault. He is accused of stabbing 30-year-old Byron Gray four times at a tent camp near Jefferson Street and Evergreen Boulevard.
In court, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jeff McCarty described the incident as an "essentially unprovoked and random stabbing of a random person."
Defense attorney Jeri Simmons noted Griffin's age and the impulsive nature of his youth. She also said he's currently trying to obtain a home through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families and that he is expecting a baby with his girlfriend, with whom he currently lives.
He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Vancouver police responded shortly after 2 p.m. to reports of a stabbing.
A witness told police she was at her tent on the west side of the intersection when she saw Griffin tackle Gray, nearly knocking him to the ground. Gray then grabbed his stomach and yelled that Griffin had stabbed him, according to court records.
Griffin then ran east on Evergreen Boulevard. The witness did not see any weapon but said Gray wasn't harmed before Griffin tackled him, court records state.
Vancouver police spokesperson Kim Kapp previously told The Columbian that Gray suffered life-threatening injuries. Police arrested Griffin near Columbia Street and Columbia Way shortly after the stabbing.
Anthony Cabrera, 36, told The Columbian that Gray is his close friend and lived with him at the camp for at least three months. He said Griffin had also lived at the camp but recently relocated to another site.
Cabrera said he and Gray, along with some friends, had been preparing to take their dogs to the Columbia River to cool off as afternoon temperatures soared into the high 80s.
It is not known what led to the attack. Cabrera said Griffin had argued with Gray before stabbing him four times - twice in the stomach and twice in the back.
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