SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A Spokane Valley man with seven prior felony convictions is facing new charges after a recent SWAT operation led to his arrest on Tuesday.
Deputies reported that on September 29, Justin C. Hancock, 42, fired a shot during an argument over a vehicle near East Harrington Avenue and North Vista Road.
The bullet ricocheted into a garage wall, narrowly missing the victim involved in the argument. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from this incident.
Detectives later identified Hancock and discovered that, as a convicted felon, he was legally prohibited from owning a firearm.
On Tuesday, investigators found the vehicle Hancock had been driving during the incident in the 1900 block of North Hutchinson Road. The SWAT team was requested due to suspicions that Hancock would be armed as well as the knowledge of his previous felony convictions.
SWAT personnel assisted detectives in safely taking Hancock into custody, and the suspect admitted to visiting the victim’s home following a disagreement over a vehicle. Hancock also admitted to discharging the firearm, which he acknowledged was illegal for him to possess, though he claimed the shot was fire by accident.
Hancock was booked into the Spokane County Jail and charged with assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
