Police: Vancouver man wielding BB gun walks into Camas house

A Vancouver man was arrested after he allegedly walked into a Camas home, struggled with the resident and shot her with a BB gun.

A woman called 911 just before 10:45 p.m. Thursday to report that a man had walked into her townhome, 1447 S.E. Eighth Ave. in the Oak Park neighborhood, Camas Police Department spokeswoman Officer Debrah Riedl said.

The door to the house was open but the screen door was closed, Riedl said.

The woman tried to stop the man by grabbing the gun, but the weapon discharged and grazed her hand, Riedl said. In the struggle, the man also slapped the woman across the face, causing minor injuries.

She called police, but the man had run away, Camas police said. A family member took the woman to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries, Riedl said.

Officers quickly located the suspect, identified as Dontae J. Smith, 19, who was still holding the BB gun. He was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary and second-degree assault.

Riedl said that he told officers he walked to Camas from Vancouver but wouldn’t cooperate.

Smith has a criminal history that includes theft and burglary, Riedl said.