Woman grazed by bullet in weekend Moses Lake incident

by Richard Byrd
| May 2, 2017 4:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — A 21-year-old woman was reportedly grazed by a bullet Saturday night while she was riding in a vehicle in Moses Lake.

About 10 p.m. Saturday night several people contacted MACC Dispatch advising of two speeding vehicles and shots fired near Lybbert Drive, in the Upper Basin Homes neighborhood. Callers advised one of the vehicles had crashed on Paxson Drive, below the Grant County Fairgrounds, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

Deputies responded to the area and reportedly located a 1993 Ford Crown Victoria with a damaged axle on Paxson Drive. Several people told deputies they witnessed a man run from the vehicle, but the man was not located in the area. About the same time, Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake contacted MACC advising a 21-year-old woman had been brought into the hospital with a gunshot wound to the right side of her head.

“The wound was described as a grazing wound and non-life-threatening,” stated the sheriff’s office in a news release.

Deputies reportedly located an Oldsmobile Alero with a shattered back window in the Samaritan parking lot. The driver of the Alero was contacted in the hospital and advised she was driving west on Valley Road with two females when another vehicle start tailgating them. She said she heard two or more gunshots, which is believed to be when the back window of the Alero was struck and the 21-year-old victim was grazed by a bullet.

“Both of the involved vehicles were impounded and deputies collected evidence at the scene. The investigation continues. Please note that there are some details of this case which we can’t divulge at this time,” stated the sheriff’s office.

People with information on the incident are asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 509-762-1160 or email information to crimetips@grantcountywa.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.