Man wounded, downtown Vancouver residents lose power in two drive-by shootings

Two drive-by shootings Saturday resulted in one person being wounded and some downtown Vancouver residents losing power, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Police responded at 3:46 p.m. to East 25th Street between Main Street and Broadway for reports of a shooting. Two men armed with handguns were walking on 25th Street when they heard gunshots behind them. The men turned and shot back at a vehicle the gunshots came from, a police news release states. No one was injured.

Bullets struck a Clark Public Utilities conduit and cut power to nearby residents, along with Walgreens and Hi-School Pharmacy, police said.

The department’s Safe Streets Task Force is investigating.

Police then responded at 11:05 p.m. to 20th Street Mini Mart, 2900 E. 20th St., in central Vancouver for reports of another shooting. A man was standing outside the convenience store when a vehicle drove by and an occupant fired several shots at him, the new release states.

The man was wounded, and the store was also struck by gunfire, according to police. Officers gave the man medical aid and said the injury did not appear to be life-threatening.

Police found the suspect’s vehicle and gave chase, according to the news release, but officers lost sight of the vehicle near Southeast 98th Avenue and Mill Plain Boulevard.

The department’s Major Crimes Unit is investigating.

Investigators said they don’t know whether the shootings are related.