Man charged for hitting parents with shovel

ROYAL CITY — Court documents do not give a motive for a Royal City man who allegedly beat his father and mother with a shovel earlier this month.

Grant County prosecutors Wilmer Guerrero, 25, of Royal City, in Grant County Superior Court with first-degree assault-firearm or deadly weapon or other force/means and armed with a deadly weapon, with an allegation of domestic violence, and second-degree assault-deadly weapon and armed with a deadly weapon, not a firearm, with an allegation of domestic violence.

The assault in question allegedly occurred on Feb. 4 in Royal City. Guerrero’s mother told police he had walked into their residence and starting speaker with his father. At some point Guerrero allegedly took off his jacket and started to hit his father in the face with several close-handed punches. Guerrero allegedly proceeded to shove his father onto the ground and started kicking and stomping on his head.

“Wilmer then grabbed a shovel and began to hit (his father) in the face with the metal part of the shovel multiple times,” reads court documents.

Guerrero’s mother attempted to stop her son, but he allegedly punched the woman in the face and swung the shovel at her, hitting and cutting her shin open. Guerrero was located near the residence and taken into custody by a Royal City police officer.

As he was en-route to the Grant County Jail, Guerrero, who had warrants out for his arrest, reportedly threatened to kick the window in the RPD officer’s patrol car. Court documents do not provide a motive for the attacks on the two victims or Guerrero’s alleged behavior toward the officer.

Guerrero’s father sustained a “shattered lower jaw” and reportedly had to be flown to Spokane for treatment.

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