Police Department

Early Morning Drive-by Shooting Arrest

Ofc. John O'Brien, PIO

Friday, January 4, 2019 at 4:59 p.m.

Police arrest a man for numerous felony charges after he fired a handgun in the area of Pacific Ave. and Browne St. Officers had been on an unrelated call this morning about two blocks from where a drive-by shooting occurred. Officers followed the suspect vehicle from the location, performed a high risk traffic stop and arrested Gillis F. Jackson (52) for gun and drug related offenses.

This morning, around 5:50 a.m., officers were handling a call for service near Division St. and Short Ave. They heard a single gunshot to the northwest of their location and saw a vehicle leaving the area on Pacific Ave. approaching Division St. immediately after the shot.

Corporal Bishop followed the vehicle from the location while Officer Carrell checked for victims and evidence of the shooting.

Officer Carrell interviewed witnesses to the shooting and recovered a bullet on the sidewalk on Pacific Ave between Browne St. and State St. It appeared Jackson had an argument with a female before he discharged a firearm. The female victim was not located and it does not appear she was struck by the bullet.

Corporal Bishop and other officers stopped Gillis in his vehicle on US Hwy 2 at S. Russell Rd. and he was taken into custody for Drive-by Shooting. A search warrant was obtained for the vehicle. Officers recovered a handgun, a spent casing and controlled substances. The vehicle was impounded for follow up investigation of a possible First Degree Assault after officers locate the unknown female.

Gillis has numerous felony convictions in several states to include: Burglary 2^nd Degree (WA State 2018), Possession of Stolen Property (WA State 2018) and Forgery (Missouri 2009 and 2010). Burglary is listed as a violent crime in WA State RCW.

Gillis was booked into the Spokane County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm 1^st Degree, Drive-by Shooting, and three counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. Gillis was in possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

Officers would like to speak to the female who had been in Gillis’s vehicle and may have been the victim of a First Degree Assault. We encourage that female to reach out to the police department by contacting a patrol officer or calling (509)456-2233.

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