Two individuals were taken into custody Tuesday night following a drive-by shooting in Kelso, Washington. The suspects later sought refuge over the state border in a portable toilet in Oregon. Kelso Police Department, with assistance from Longview Police and the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, initially responded to the incident, reported at around 6:50 p.m. at the intersection of West Cowlitz Way and Catlin Street. The victim, identified as 31-year-old Cody Tamayo, suffered gunshot injuries and was subsequently transported to a trauma center, said officials. The details of his medical condition are not currently public, according to KOIN News.
The search for the assailants led to Rainier, Oregon, where the Columbia County Sheriff's Office was tipped off around 11:30 p.m. about the suspects' hideout near an abandoned vehicle. The suspects, 19-year-old Connor Santos Aguayo and 18-year-old Eligha Christian Buckner Lopez were subsequently found hiding in a portable loo. Both were arrested on charges of a drive-by shooting and first-degree assault, as reported by The News-Journal.
Police had earlier discovered the suspects at a nearby gas station in Kelso, which was the scene of the shooting. Following their apprehension, the arresting officers reported that the duo attempted to evade arrest by concealing themselves in the unconventional hiding spot. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office secured the area before taking Aguayo and Lopez into custody without further incident. Both suspects are now facing serious charges, KPTV reports.
The incident has raised questions and concerns within the local communities about gun violence and safety. As authorities continue the investigation, the events leading up to the shooting and the motives behind it remain under scrutiny. Meanwhile, the conditions and circumstances under which Tamayo sustained his injuries are being closely examined to ascertain the full account of what transpired on that unsettling night.
