Spokane police are investigating a series of drive-by shootings and say they are largely unrelated and not accidental

September 30, 2021 6:23 PM

Posted: Sep 30, 2021 6:23 PM

Updated: September 30, 2021 6:45 p.m.

Drive-by-shoot investigation COPYRIGHT KXLY 4 NEWS NOW

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Police Department is investigating possible gang links in a number of recent drive-by shootings.

Officials said the five shootings over a three-day period were not accidental and, for the most part, appear unrelated.

The first shooting took place near Gonzaga on Tuesday. Two men were shot and not seriously injured. According to police, the shooting was not a coincidence, but a quarrel between people in two different cars.

Another shooting was reported around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Neighbors near N. Lincoln’s 4400 block said they heard multiple gunshots. They also told officers they saw an SUV pulling out of the area. No one was injured, but officers found five bullet holes in a car outside a nearby house. Police said they believed the shooting was targeted. However, you haven’t found the shooter yet.

Then three drive-by shootings were reported on Thursday morning. At around 5:30 a.m., police in Pittsburg and Liberty called in over reports of gunfire in the area. The officers said they found cartridge cases there. They discovered that a car with people in it was the target of the shootout.

About an hour later, several callers reported hearing gunshots and hearing a car rushing off the 1600 block of E. Bridgeport. Investigators said it looked like the accused gunman returned to the location about five minutes later and fired more shots. Police said they found bullet holes in a house and found cartridge cases. The officials said it was a targeted shootout. Investigators claim to have identified the alleged shooter and the car they were in.

Police also responded Thursday morning to calls about a drive-by shooting in W. Mallon’s 2000 block. Investigators said they found a grenade in the street and three bullet holes in an apartment building. The man who lived in the apartment was not injured, the police said. They also said they don’t believe he was the target of the shooting.

Investigations into all the shootings are ongoing.

Spokane police said that although the shootings appear targeted and there is no danger to the public, bystanders could be injured.

Police said one of their top priorities was finding the shooters and getting dangerous people off the streets.

RELATED: Spokane Police: 2 injured in shooting near Gonzaga