Man shoots at 2 suspects, wounds 1 after they allegedly attack him in his driveway

KELSO, Wash. — The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that happened Thursday afternoon.

Police say that at around 4:30 p.m. the Sheriff’s Office received the report that a man had been shot near Riverside Park in Kelso.

Law enforcement arrived at the scene and quickly located a man with a pistol. He was taken into custody by police, and acknowledged he has fired a shot at two people he claimed were assaulting him.

Deputies found a vehicle related to the incident near Rainbow Way and West Side Hwy, with the shooting victim inside.

The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and the Sheriff’s Office closed West Side Highway for about an hour to account for everyone and process evidence.

During the investigation deputies interviewed multiple witnesses and obtained video of the altercation.

They learned that a man and a woman were sitting in their vehicle, in the driveway of their home, when they were approached by multiple suspects. Two men, identified by police as Asa McVay Keith Kelly, 21, of Longview, and Kamrin Alexander Kerr,19, of Longview, entered the driveway and confronted the man who was in the vehicle. Kelly and Kerr were seen opening the man’s door, and Kelly struck the man several times.

Kelly reportedly accused the man in the driver’s seat of being in a rival gang. As the man was being assaulted, he drew a pistol, exited the vehicle, and fired one shot, striking Kerr. The man stated he fired in self-defense.

The suspects involved in the assault fled the scene in the vehicle that was later located near Rainbow Way.

Based on witness statements and video corroborating the man’s statement, he was interviewed and released without charges.

Asa Kelly and Kamrin Kerr were booked into Cowlitz County Jail on charges of Assault 4th Degree and Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree.