Hough shooting may have gang links

A warm night turned violent early Monday, when a shooting that police called gang-related shook Vancouver’s Hough neighborhood.

A suspect, Jeremy Pina, 21, of Vancouver, was being held on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, according to police. He was arrested about 7:15 a.m. Monday morning, about 90 minutes after a police SWAT team had entered an apartment in a small complex at the corner of 21st Street and Markle Avenue.

The victim’s name was not released. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment; a man who said he was his father told a Portland TV station that his son was shot, underwent surgery and was recovering.

The Safe Streets Task Force was called to investigate the shooting, which is standard in suspected gang-related events, said Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp.

A motive for the shooting wasn’t immediately clear.

“It wasn’t random. That’s all we know,” Kapp said Monday.

The incident began at 12:05 a.m. after several neighbors called 911 to report a shooting at a home at 2213 Lincoln Ave.

One of the first people on scene was an off-duty firefighter, Nate Cook, who lives nearby.

Cook, 36, was watching television with his wife, Jasmine, when they heard about seven gunshots and a scream through the open window.

“I’ll never forget that scream,” Jasmine Cook said.

Nate Cook ran outside and saw the 18-year-old victim’s bicycle on the ground in front of his house. He went back inside to get dressed and called 911 as he ran to where he had heard the scream.

He found the victim lying on the sidewalk conscious and alert. The gunman was nowhere in sight. The victim had about six gunshot wounds, Cook said. He examined the wounds and came up with a treatment plan to pass on to medics when they arrived with equipment.

As soon as Vancouver Police arrived, they handed Cook a pair of gloves. He had blood on his hands and legs. The paramedics took the victim to an area hospital.

Cook then talked to a woman he knew to be the victim’s mother. He assured her that her son was being treated and was in good hands.

Police searched yards and checked cars driving through the neighborhood, Cook said.

Shortly before sunrise, officers surrounded a tan-colored apartment complex at 21st Street and Markle Avenue, less than two blocks away from the scene of the shooting.