Man shot at altercation in Skamokawa

A 34-year-old Cowlitz County man underwent surgery after being shot with a .22 bullet early Saturday morning in Skamokawa.

The victim, a Fall Creek Road resident, refused further treatment and left the hospital after giving a statement to law enforcement officers.

Wahkiakum County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Cathlamet man, Jack Sebade, age 73, on a charge of assault in the first degree.

Witnesses told officers that Sebade left the lounge at the Duck Inn shortly before 1 a.m.

In a statement to officers, Sebade told officers he saw a woman leaning against a vehicle parked next to his van. He went to his van and found a religious tract to show the woman; he also picked up and pocketed a .22 caliber magnum revolver. He said that while he was talking to the woman, another woman came up and "got in his face," and then a man appeared and told him to leave. The man struck him and knocked him to the ground when he refused to leave, Sebade said, and when he was getting up, he fired a gunshot. The man and his female companions left in a van, and Sebade got in his van and started to leave but stopped.

Deputy Sheriff Bill Tawater and Reserve Deputy Sheriff Mike Wright soon arrived. They placed Sebade under arrest and collected statements from witnesses.

The sheriff's office communications officers learned that the victim had checked into the emergency room at St. John Hospital and informed Tawater, who in turn requested that Cowlitz County officers contact the victim and his companions before they left the hospital.

Upon taking Sebade to the jail in Cathlamet, Tawater proceeded to Longview, arriving while the victim was in surgery to remove a bullet from the abdomen. Tawater collected statements, and the victim and his companions left.

In his report, Tawater noted that he observed a strong order of intoxicants about the suspect and the victim.

Sebade appeared in Wahkiakum Superior Court Monday and was charged with assault in the first degree. He was released on $35,000 bail. No plea was entered; arraignment was continued to November 9.