He was inside house where shooting occurred; no ID released
By Paul Suarez
Published: September 30, 2012, 5:00pm
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Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the Oct. 1 shooting death of Matthew Clark inside this Hazel Dell home.
A man was found dead inside a northeast Hazel Dell house after a Monday morning shooting.
His identity was not released by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The victim had been shot, but the cause of death had not been determined as of Monday night, said Sgt. Fred Neiman, spokesman for the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. He added that the case was being treated as a homicide.
No arrests have been made as of Monday night, said Sgt. Kevin Allais.
Neighbors said they have seen a lot of people come and go from the house. According to Columbian archives, three people who gave that address were arrested in the past.
Despite no arrest, there is no reason to think there is any risk to neighbors or the public, Neiman, said.
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“It’s an alarming situation to have a shooting in their neighborhood,” Neiman said.
Detectives say the victim and suspect probably knew each other in some way, he said.
The incident was first reported just before 6:30 a.m. at 9610 N.E. 25th Ave., according to emergency dispatch logs. What transpired at the single-story home, which is on an arterial street in a residential neighborhood near Northeast 99th Street, was not immediately clear.
Sheriff’s deputies, American Medical Response and Clark County Fire District 6 were dispatched to the scene. Minutes later the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit was requested.
The sheriff’s office didn’t release many details Monday to avoid tipping off potential suspects or compromising the case, Neiman said.
Sharon Dillard has lived across the street from the house for 25 years. She says she typically sees a lot of people around the house. She also says the sheriff’s office makes regular visits. Neiman wouldn’t comment on the house’s history.
Dillard said she heard a few bangs early Monday morning. At first, she thought it was just someone knocking down the neighbor’s front door — something she says has happened before. She then went outside and saw a car back out of the driveway and drive off, she said. Pretty soon she heard sirens.
“It wouldn’t have even occurred to me that it was a gun,” she said later in the morning. “You never think it’s going to get to that point.”
Patrol cars blocked 25th Avenue at its intersection with 99th Street to the north and near Northeast 96th Street on the south side. Deputies also taped part of the street in front of the home around tire-tread marks and other debris.
Detectives spent much of the day collecting evidence at the house and talking with neighbors.
The home is owned by Stefanie Blissmer of Vancouver, according to county property records. Blissmer could not be reached Monday night.
Anyone with information in the case is encouraged to call the Clark County Sheriff’s West Precinct at 360-397-6079.
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