An argument in east Vancouver ended with a gunshot fired into the ground and a suspect in custody, police said Thursday. Detectives say they tracked the vehicle that left the scene, found a gun and ammunition inside it, and arrested Andrei Savka on several allegations.
Vancouver police said officers responded to a reported shooting in east Vancouver after two males got into an argument. One pulled a gun and fired a round at the ground near the other male, and one of the men later left the scene, according to a Vancouver Police Department Facebook post.
Detectives from the department's Crime Reduction Unit identified the man police say fired the shot by locating a vehicle that matched the one seen leaving the shooting scene. They conducted a traffic stop, seized the vehicle and then executed a search warrant, police said.
Police Say Gun Matched Casing From Scene
During the search, investigators found a firearm and ammunition inside the vehicle. Police said the firearm matched the casing recovered where the shooting was reported, according to the department's case update.
Police identified the arrested man as Andrei Savka and said he was arrested for second-degree assault, felony harassment and unlawful discharge of a firearm. The initial update did not specify whether anyone was injured, whether formal charges had been filed, or when Savka would make a first court appearance.
What The Allegations Could Mean Under Washington Law
Second-degree assault is generally a Class B felony in Washington and can include assault with a deadly weapon, under RCW 9A.36.021. The state's harassment law explains when the offense can become a Class C felony in RCW 9A.46.020, while RCW 9.41.230 addresses willfully discharging a firearm in a public place or where someone might be endangered.
As with any arrest, the allegations are not convictions and would have to be proved in court. The police update did not include a court date or a statement from Savka.
Recent Vancouver Gunfire Cases
The arrest follows several recent firearm-related incidents in Vancouver. Earlier this month, a separate waterfront dispute ended with gunfire and an arrest, while a June shooting at an apartment complex sent a 14-year-old to the hospital, according to Hoodline's waterfront report and its coverage of the June shooting.
