Man accused in carjack shooting said victim owed money
A man accused of shooting another man in an apparent carjacking attempt Friday told police he was trying to get money the victim owed an acquaintance, according to court documents filed Monday.
Joseph P. Ellery, 30, (left) pulled a gun he jumped in the Mitsubishi 3GT coupe that Donald G. Young was driving before Young grabbed the gun and it “just went off,” Ellery reportedly told police.
Young, who family members said is in his 50s, is in critical condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center with a single gunshot to his upper body, according to court papers.
Ellery is in Spokane County Jail on $25,000 bond after appearing in court Monday on one count of first-degree assault.
After Young collapsed in the street, Ellery tried driving the Mitsubishi from the scene but ran after he couldn’t get it started, police said.
He was arrested after a police dog tracked him to a dog house in the 2500 block of North Normandie.
Also arrested was Richard P. Hoffman, 34, who police say was driving his 2001 Chevy pickup with Ellery when Ellery got out and approached Young, according to court documents.
Hoffman is charged with drug possession.
Hoffman (right) told police he heard a woman in a Ford Explorer that was between his pickup and Young’s Mitsubishi scream for help as the Mitsubishi rocked back and forth.
“Several witnesses began approaching and Hoffman yelled at them to get back because he (Ellery) had a gun and he just shot someone,” according to court documents.
Ellery has previous convictions for burglary and criminal mischief and Yellowstone County, Mont.
In August, he was credited for 67 days served in Spokane County Jail after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary and attempted theft of a motor vehicle in Spokane County, according to news archives.
It's unclear if Ellery is related to Justin Jay Ellery, the 24-year-old accused of armed robberies at Zip Trip and Papa John's.