Man arrested for shooting airman
by Nick Delgado
Guam - Criminal Investigation agents spent nearly five hours last night questioning the man accused in last weekend's shooting in Dededo. Agents with the Guam Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division didn't have to go far to find the prime suspect in last Saturday's shooting along Chalan Kayen Komplimento in the Macheche area.
41-year-old Gordon Lee Wright lives right next door to the crime scene. According to police spokesperson Sergeant Mike Aguon, Wright and the victim, identified as a 24-year-old Air Force service member, were exchanging words when the gun went off. "What happened that evening is the victim was inside his vehicle about to leave when a vehicle approached and pulled up beside him, asked him a question and then he was shot, the vehicle then fled the scene," he said.
Aguon says the airman was visiting another service member in Macheche that night. The trail of blood shows how he tried to make it back to his friend's home to get help. Based on the exit hole on the victim's car door, police believe Wright allegedly used a rifle type shotgun in the commission of the crime, police however have not been able to locate the weapon.
"I understand there is no weapon that was confiscated at this time so that's still pending," said Aguon. Police have not yet identified the motive in this case, and they are now working with the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations agents to find out why the alleged shooting occurred. They are also speaking with the victim who is currently being treated at Tripler Medical Center in Hawaii.
The airman is in stable condition and had to undergo surgery for his injury. He is also conscious and alert, so police are hoping to get more details soon. "When he does come back and if he does we will be able to question him into the matter," he said.
Meantime, Wright was booked and confined for attempted murder, use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm without a firearms ID. Police say there are no other suspects believed to have been involved in the shooting at this time. "That's all we know now, we don't have any motive for what had happened, we just hope that if anyone has anything to add to that or they might know anything about the case that they can give us a call," he said.
Wright is scheduled to appear before a magistrate's judge in the Superior Court on Saturday afternoon.