Police Press Release Details Today's Incident

WWPD releases statement regarding police activity which prompted today’s school lockdowns

PRESS RELEASE PDF

ARMED ROBBERY IN THE 400 BLOCK OF SPRAGUE AVE
WALLA WALLA, WA – On February 17, 2023, at 8:35 a.m., The Walla Walla Police Department received a 911 call for shots fired in the 400 blk of Sprague Ave. Due to proximity, WWPD contacted Garrison Middle School and Lincoln High School and advised both schools to lock down. Officers arrived on Sprague Ave and were flagged down by the victim, a 41-year-old male. The victim stated two 18-year-old male suspects, both known to the victim, entered his house. One of the suspects was armed with firearm. Both suspects demanded the victim give them items of value. The victim armed himself with household items and ran the two suspects out of the house.

When the two suspects got to the front yard, the one armed with the firearm turned around and fired two shots toward the house. The victim was not struck. Both suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. At 8:50 a.m., both schools were advised the lockdown could be lifted as there was no current threat to school safety.

WWPD detectives immediately began a search for the suspects, Ivan Gonzalez, 18 and Antonio Corona, 18, both from Walla Walla. At 11:12 a.m., while canvasing for the described suspect vehicle, two detectives located the vehicle in the Walla Walla High School parking lot.

***There is no indication that there was any intent or plans for violence toward the school.***

As the detectives approached the vehicle, Gonzalez got out of the car and ran. At this time, School Resource Officer, Deputy Edwards responded to assist. He immediately activated school lockdown procedures as a precaution. Gonzalez was apprehended a short distance away, off school grounds. Corona was contacted inside the school and taken into custody. Corona was taking part in normal school activities when he was contacted. Gonzalez is not a WA-HI student.

Both Gonzalez and Corona were arrested on charges of Assault in the 1st Degree and Attempted Robbery. A juvenile female, also a WA-HI student, was also taken into custody as an accomplice to the charges of Assault in the 1st Degree and Attempted Robbery.

After the three suspects were taken into custody, the lockdown was lifted as there was no current threat to school safety. This investigation is ongoing.