A planned marijuana deal in Centralia turned violent when a juvenile was shot during what police say was an attempt to rob the dealer. Within 24 hours of the incident, officers arrested three suspects.
The case also led to a heavy police presence in Chehalis the next morning, which many residents believed was a standoff. Authorities have confirmed that no more suspects are being searched for.
Three Arrested After Shooting in Centralia
The Centralia Police Department arrested 21-year-old Nicholas Holmgren from Chehalis on Saturday, Feb. 14, around 3:30 p.m. Officers stopped his vehicle in Centralia and later booked him into the Lewis County Jail. He is facing charges of first-degree assault and drive-by shooting.
Another suspect, 20-year-old Zachary Sells, also from Chehalis, was booked into the Lewis County Jail on the same charges. In addition, a 17-year-old boy from Tumwater was taken to Lewis County Juvenile Detention in connection with the shooting.
Police confirmed that no additional suspects are at large.
How the Shooting Happened
The incident took place at around 8:40 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, in the 1100 block of Harrison Avenue in Centralia. Officers responded after receiving a report about a shooting.
According to a news release, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle carrying three juveniles. During the traffic stop, one of the passengers told deputies that he had just been shot. He was taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Centralia detectives later spoke with the three juveniles and learned that they had arranged to meet someone to buy marijuana. However, police say the group planned to rob the dealer instead.
A witness reported that the juvenile who was shot had shown a firearm before the shooting happened. After being shot, he allegedly threw his gun out of the vehicle during the traffic stop. K9 Havik was brought in to search the area and successfully found the discarded firearm.
Police were told that the suspect vehicle involved was a silver, four-door sedan similar to a Honda. Using the Flock Safety camera system, officers were able to track down the suspected vehicle and identify possible suspects.
Heavy Police Response in Chehalis
On Saturday morning, residents in Chehalis noticed a strong law enforcement presence near Southwest Grandview Avenue and Southwest Kelly Avenue. While police have not officially confirmed that the operation was directly linked to the shooting, it was understood that investigators were searching for suspects connected to the case.
Due to the situation, Lewis County Emergency Management issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents. Chehalis police also asked the public to avoid the area.
Officers from Centralia and Chehalis were joined by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington State Patrol SWAT team. For several hours, law enforcement officers stayed outside a home in the area. A loudspeaker was used in attempts to contact people believed to be inside.
Later, officers deployed flash bangs in an effort to get the occupants to come out. The SWAT team used an armored vehicle to break a window and enter the residence. However, the suspects were not found inside.
After confirming that no suspects were in the house, officers cleared the scene, and roads were reopened.
Police Thank Assisting Agencies
A few hours after the Chehalis operation, the Centralia Police Department officially announced the arrests in the shooting case. In a statement, the department thanked the Washington State Patrol SWAT team, the Chehalis Police Department, and the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office for their support in safely handling the situation.
Authorities have said that no further information will be released at this time.
The quick arrests following the shooting show the coordinated effort between multiple law enforcement agencies.
While the injured juvenile survived with minor injuries, the incident highlights how quickly illegal activities can turn dangerous. Police continue to urge the community to stay away from criminal behaviour and report suspicious activities to prevent similar incidents in the future.
