A Camas man who allegedly shot at another man during an apparent drug deal gone wrong made a first appearance Wednesday in Clark County Superior Court.
Matthew J. Cash, 18, appeared on suspicion of first-degree assault in connection with the Monday night incident outside Vancouver Mall.
Vancouver police were dispatched about 10:40 p.m. to an assault with a weapon at 8208 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive. The reporting person said two men were fighting and one fired a weapon, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Responding officers contacted Damon Suarez and his girlfriend, who both said an unknown man shot at Suarez during an altercation. Suarez suffered a bruise over his left eye but was not seriously injured, the affidavit states.
His girlfriend later changed her story, however, and admitted that Suarez was at the mall to meet a man named “Cash” for a drug deal. Cash tried to shoot Suarez, she said, when the “deal went bad,” court records say. A woman who witnessed the altercation said the shooter fled in a silver minivan.
Officers said they are familiar with Cash and know he has family in the area. A minivan matching the description of the suspect vehicle was found in the 3500 block of Northeast 49th Street. A woman came out of a nearby apartment when she saw officers inspecting the vehicle and asked what Cash had done, according to court documents. She then escorted Cash out of the apartment to meet officers.
Cash allegedly admitted to firing a weapon but said he took it from Suarez. The firearm was later discovered where Cash had been staying, court records say.
On Wednesday, Judge Suzan Clark set his bail at $200,000. He will be arraigned Aug. 28.
