Ronald L. Orr appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Monday afternoon, on charges that he fired several shots from a .22 caliber pistol during a drive-by shooting. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
Edward A. Butterworth appeared in Lewis County Superior Court Monday afternoon, on charges that he was the driver in a drive-by shooting. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
A drive-by shooting in Chehalis Saturday night started as a practical joke, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Ronald L. Orr, 26, and Edward A. Butterworth, 29, both of Centralia, were charged as co-defendants Monday with one count each of drive-by shooting and second-degree assault. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison if the men are convicted.
Butterworth was granted $100,000 bail and Orr was granted $125,000 bail.
The men were arrested at 1:25 a.m. Saturday after the incident in the 1700 block of Big Hanaford Road in Chehalis.
No one was shot, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office report, although the men are accused of firing several rounds from a handgun.
According to a report from the sheriff’s office, a group of people were having a birthday party when Orr and Butterworth decided to prank partygoers with a drive-by shooting.
Court documents state the men pulled up in front of a residence in the 1700 block of Big Hanaford Road in a dark SUV, fired shots and fled the area.
Two 28-year-old men from the party got in a car and chased Orr and Butterworth to the 400 block of Big Hanaford Road.
According to court documents, investigators believe Butterworth drove and Orr fired the gun. Orr allegedly fired more shots as they drove.
Centralia police and deputies from the sheriff’s office caught up with both cars on Blue Road, a dead-end street, and arrested Orr and Butterworth.
According to court documents, Orr told police he was at Butterworth’s house, across the street from the house with the party, but denied firing any weapons.
Butterworth told officers he and Orr drove to the house and fired a pistol in the bushes as a joke. Orr continued to deny involvement in the shooting.
Police later found a .22 pistol, a rifle and a revolver in the SUV.
