Moses Lake shooting apparently was joke gone wrong

Victim listed in serious condition

By CHERYL SCHWEIZER

Staff Writer

MOSES LAKE — A shooting that sent a Moses Lake man to a Spokane hospital in serious condition Friday afternoon may have been a joke gone wrong. Donte Scott, 28, Moses Lake was in serious condition at an undisclosed Spokane hospital, according to a press release from the Moses Lake Police Department. Scott was shot four times during an incident reported about 4:23 p.m. Friday in the 1000 block of Eastlake Drive. Scott allegedly went to an apartment in the complex and pounded on the door, the press release said. “When one of the residents looked through the peephole in the door they observed Scott brandishing a firearm. The resident did not answer the door and advised the four other occupants that a subject with a gun was at the door,” the press release said. “Scott then started opening the door to the apartment. At that point a 23-year-old inside the apartment, fearing an armed intruder was entering, fired six rounds through the door, striking Scott four times.” Scott was known to some of the apartment residents, and apparently was playing a joke, the press release said. “No charges are expected against the 23-year-old occupant.” “The two firearms believed to be involved were recovered during the investigation.” Another resident of the apartment complex, Joe Leckenby, 54, allegedly hid the weapons, a 9-mm handgun and .40 caliber handgun. Charges for obstruction are pending against Leckenby, the press release said. Scott was taken by private vehicle to Samaritan Hospital, and later transferred to a Spokane facility. He was discovered to be carrying “several individual plastic bags of cocaine.” Charges are pending for possession of cocaine and brandishing a firearm.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.