Police Department

Police arrest two; recover two guns after shots fired

Ofc. Teresa Fuller

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 11 a.m.

Spokane police arrest two suspects on charges of Drive-by Shooting and 1st Degree Assault after shots were fired during an altercation in North Spokane. There were no injuries in this incident. This incident is being investigated as a potentially gang-related crime. One suspect (Jayme L. Rodgers, 22 years old) was arrested a short time after the initial call. The second suspect (Thomas L. Weatherwax, 25 years old) barricaded himself in the attic of a home near Perry and Rowan and refused to come out. Hostage Negotiators and SWAT responded, worked to de-escalate the situation, and Weatherwax exited the home and was safely detained. All suspects believed to be involved in this incident are in custody.

The Spokane Violent Crime Gang Enforcement Task Force (SVCGET) is investigating this incident as possibly being gang related. The incident started as an altercation between two individuals at the Hillyard Grocery, 5803 N. Market last night. Shots were fired around 10:55 p.m. and Spokane Police officers quickly responded to the scene. There were no injuries in either of these incidents. Spokane Police officers immediately began to search the area for the suspects. During the search, officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near Perry and Rowan. The vehicle was stopped in the 5600 block of N. Perry and one of the suspects, Jayme Rodgers, was arrested. The second suspect Thomas Weatherwax went inside a nearby residence and barricaded himself in the attic, refusing to come out.

Spokane Police officers worked for hours to get Weatherwax out of the home safely. SPD Hostage Negotiators and SWAT also responded to the scene and before making entry to the home, Weatherwax complied with negotiators and was taken into custody safely.

Two search warrants were served on the house and the car, resulting in the recovery of two guns, one of which was stolen. Investigation surrounding this incident and the recovery of weapons is ongoing, however additional charges are anticipated.

Each suspect has been charged with Drive By Shooting and 1st Degree Assault. It should be noted that per Washington State law a suspect can be charged with Drive By Shooting if the person who fired shots had been transported to or from the location in a vehicle. In this particular incident both of the suspected shooters fled the scene in vehicles.

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