Ballistics link Fisk to drive-by shooting
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The defendant, Deonray J. Fisk, 26, was indicted Friday by the Warren County grand jury on charges of attempted first-degree murder for the drive-by shooting which occurred just before Christmas last year, leaving one man wounded.
Specifically, Fisk is accused of shooting David Estrada after pulling alongside the truck in which he was a passenger on Sparta Highway on the evening of Dec. 23. Estrada said Fisk had confronted him and friends minutes earlier inside Wal-Mart, calling them ?Loco Mexicans.?
The victim said he was hit in the hip when the drive-by shooter fired into their truck. Lawmen have not revealed whether they believe the shooting was a hate crime or if it stemmed from the earlier confrontation.
The spent shell casings were found by Investigator Jim Hartman on Sparta Highway hours after the drive-by shooting. Hartman testified during preliminary hearing that the shells showed up in the headlights of the patrol cruisers, allowing lawmen to find them in the dark.
The gun, which ballistics experts linked to the shells on the highway, was found at a home where Fisk was staying. Along with ballistics, investigators say the night of the shooting Fisk had borrowed his father?s car which fit the description of the drive-by car. Hartman said a receipt from Wal-Mart was also found in the car fitting what Fisk admitted buying from the store the night in question. While not confessing to the crime, Fisk did reportedly say he would ?accept responsibility? for the shooting.
Although the victims said others were in the car at the time of the shooting, there have been no additional arrests. Fisk, who has a prior felony record, could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.