A judge set bail at $1 million for a Vancouver gang member accused of trying to gun down a teenager in the Hough neighborhood.
Jeremy S. Pina, 21, made his first appearance Tuesday morning in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder. Judge Scott Collier set the bail after hearing from prosecutors that Pina has a criminal history and has failed to appear in court in the past.
Collier appointed defense attorney Jeff Barrar to represent him and set arraignment for Aug. 27.
According to court documents, the shooting followed an ongoing dispute between Pina and the 18-year-old victim, Nicholas Moline, that involved Pina making a threat. Court documents don’t reveal the nature of the dispute.
The shooting occurred just after midnight Monday in the roadway in the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue. After paramedics responded, Moline told them that Pina — who had allegedly fled on a bicycle — was the shooter.
Moline was shot at least six times but is expected to survive, authorities said. A PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center spokeswoman said Moline was not listed in the hospital’s public directory Tuesday.
Friends of Pina attended the court hearing, expressing shock over the allegations. Friend Alicia Castle said Pina was never violent, but had turned to drugs recently and had become tangled in the law. He has a pending theft case in District Court.
“I never thought he was capable of something like this,” Castle said.
Following the shooting, investigators processing the crime scene found multiple .45-caliber shell casings in the road, and a nearby home sustained damage from a gunshot, according to court documents.
At about 7 a.m. Monday morning, police said Pina approached his home at 2008 Markle Avenue, just down the street from the shooting scene. He was barefoot and had scratches and abrasions on his leg and back, according to court documents.
Pina did not want to give a statement to police, according to court documents.
In an interview Tuesday with a pre-trial release officer, Pina said he did not know Moline. He denied having any drug or alcohol problems. He said he is a Norteno gang member.
Laura McVicker: http://twitter.com/col_courts; http://facebook.com/reportermcvicker; laura.mcvicker@columbian.com; 360-735-4516.
