A man shot in November 2022 during an argument with his fiancee’s father over a vehicle in north Clark County is now being charged with assault stemming from the altercation.
Donovan Pulver-Downing, 30, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on a warrant accusing him of second-degree assault, first-degree robbery and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
A judge set bail at $25,000 in the case. Pulver-Downing is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 2.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office and Battle Ground Police Department responded at about 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 to a report of a disturbance with weapons near Northeast Fern Drive and Columbia Tie Road. The 911 caller said he was Todd Spencer and that he’d shot Pulver-Downing, according to a prior sheriff’s office news release.
When law enforcement arrived, officers detained Spencer without incident. Officers found Pulver-Downing inside the house with gunshot wounds to his right hand and torso. They provided medical aid until North Country EMS arrived and took over. Pulver-Downing was then taken via Life Flight helicopter to a hospital, according to the sheriff’s office and court records.
Court records state Pulver-Downing lived on Spencer’s property with his fiancee, who is Spencer’s daughter.
She told investigators the couple was driving to the grocery store in Spencer’s pickup when they started arguing; Pulver-Downing said he wanted to move out. He called Spencer and told him he wanted to get his belongings and the title to the truck, which the couple had been making payments on, according to a probable cause affidavit.
When they returned to Spencer’s house, Spencer locked the front door. He then heard Pulver-Downing climb through a bedroom window, so he armed himself with bear mace, the affidavit states.
Pulver-Downing pulled a 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun from the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, Spencer said, and pointed it at Spencer. Spencer and other witnesses told investigators Pulver-Downing asked Spencer if he was going to mace him, and he demanded the title to the truck, court records say.
Spencer said he backed away from Pulver-Downing and set down the bear mace. But Pulver-Downing continued to follow him and point the gun at him, cornering him against his desk. Spencer said he saw his .38 caliber revolver on the desk and grabbed it. He said he believed Pulver-Downing was going to shoot him, so when Pulver-Downing pointed the handgun at Spencer again, Spencer shot him twice, according to the affidavit.
Pulver-Downing reportedly declined to answer investigators’ questions at the hospital. Spencer has not been charged with any criminal offenses in connection with the case.
