A Vancouver man who allegedly shot an intruder outside his house Thursday had argued with the man about a prescription drug deal the day before, according to court documents.
Donta Patterson, 29, of Vancouver was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault and is being held in the Clark County Jail on $200,000 bail. He is accused of shooting Nathan Rivers once in the face after discovering him in his garage, allegedly stealing a power drill.
A 19-year-old Battle Ground woman, Camille M. Langdon, was jailed on suspicion of second-degree burglary. She is believed to have accompanied Rivers to Patterson’s home. She was released Friday after posting bond.
Rivers, 22, was still hospitalized Friday afternoon with serious injuries, police said. Though Rivers was described as a burglary suspect in initial reports Thursday, a deputy prosecutor said Friday he was still receiving police reports and hadn’t decided whether to file charges. A spokesman for Southwest Washington Medical Center said Rivers was not listed in the hospital’s public directory.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, Patterson told investigators he was the middleman in a transaction for oxycodone between Rivers and Langdon, and an unnamed supplier. Patterson said the two didn’t like the type of oxycodone he sold them and wanted their money back.
“Donta told them that he was only the middleman, and they would have to contact the supplier to get their money back,” according to the affidavit signed by Vancouver police Detective Eric Swenson.
The next day, about 11:50 a.m., Patterson said he noticed Rivers and Langdon inside the detached garage at his home, 3512 E. McLoughlin Blvd. So he went to his bedroom to retrieve a handgun from under his bed, according to court documents.
Langdon and Rivers dropped the drill when confronted, but Rivers then allegedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Patterson’s head.
“Donta said that he shot Rivers while moving away from the gun in self-defense,” the affidavit said.
In an interview that afternoon, Langdon told detectives that she and Rivers went to visit Patterson, but after having trouble contacting him, went inside his garage. That’s when she said Rivers took a power drill from a box, according to court documents.
Court documents don’t reveal why the power drill was taken or what — if any — connection there was to the drug transaction.
Both Patterson and Langdon made first appearances in Clark County Superior Court on Friday. Judge Robert Lewis set arraignment for Sept. 21.
Laura McVicker: 360-735-4516 or laura.mcvicker@columbian.com.
