A Centralia man accused of flinging a bullet out of a slingshot toward another person during an argument in the 600 block of South Gold Street on Thursday has been charged with second-degree assault.
Christopher Robin Chapman, 53, is accused of striking and damaging a building in the 600 block of South Gold Street with a .22 round that exploded on impact.
Officers with the Centralia Police Department were dispatched to the area at 9:55 a.m. after someone reported hearing a gunshot. Officers interviewed nearby residents and several reported “they heard a loud bang and/or (a) suspected gunshot sound” while several others indicated they heard nothing, according to court documents.
Several witnesses reported seeing Chapman, who was “using a slingshot/wrist rocket at the time,” arguing with a man.
When contacted by officers, the man reported “at some point he was hit with something” and said “Chapman had a gun in his hand and shot at him,” but the man reportedly “admitted that his vision was poor,” according to court documents.
“Mr. Chapman would like the court to be aware, he does not possess or own any firearms nor were any firearms found (at the scene),” said Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller during Chapman’s preliminary hearing in Lewis County Superior Court on Friday.
Chapman reportedly “remained concealed” at the Gold Street residence for “quite a while,” despite officers’ “repeated” commands to come out.
“It took the police quite some time to get him out of the shed he was hiding in,” said Deputy Prosecutor Scott Jackson.
Eventually, Chapman came out of hiding and allegedly admitted “that he had shot plastic pieces toward (the victim)” while attempting to shoot the victim’s car tires, according to court documents.
He allegedly said “if there was a sound of an explosion, it could have been from a .22 round that he may have shot from the slingshot/wrist rocket.”
Chapman reportedly said the .22 round “must have exploded on impact.”
Officers observed several unspent .22 rounds at the scene and found a potential impact point on the building behind where the victim’s car was parked.
Officers have confirmed the .22 round shot from the slingshot/wrist rocket would be capable of substantial bodily harm.
Chapman was arrested and was booked into the Lewis County Jail just before 2:35 p.m. on Sept. 1.
Due to concerns stemming from Chapman’s “evasive” behavior with the police, the alleged involvement of a “very dangerous weapon” and the fact that Chapman has two active warrants out for his arrest, Judge J. Andrew Toynbee set Chapman’s bail at $50,000 on Friday.
Chapman’s next court appearance is an arraignment hearing scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 8.
