PORT ANGELES — The 33-year-old man who was shot in the face late Monday night was treated and discharged from a hospital Tuesday.
His alleged assailant made a first appearance in court, and arraignment has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday identified the shooting victim as Jacob Griffith, 33, of Port Angeles, who was wounded after an argument erupted with his roommate, Keith Berlin, 54, at their home at 513 S. Alder Lane.
Berlin was arrested for investigation of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
He is being held for 72 hours while Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Deb Kelly decides what charges to file.
Berlin was still in custody at the Clallam County jail Tuesday night in lieu of $500,000 bail.
The Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent him at the Tuesday court hearing, during which the conditions of release and bail were set.
If he were to make bail, other conditions of release include a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew, no contact with Griffith or a witness, Erika Delgado, no consumption of alcohol and no possession of deadly weapons.
Berlin would also have to arrange for either Griffith to move out of his house or stay at another location as part of the conditions of release.
“One way or another, Mr. Berlin will need to provide an address where he is staying,” said Superior Court Judge George Wood, who presided at the hearing.
“Of course if he owns that property, he can, of course, stay there and have the victim move out.”
Griffith was shot with a .22-caliber rifle at about 7:30 p.m. Monday
Both men live at the manufactured home at the end of a dark, forested road which winds south from U.S. Highway 101 in Morse Creek canyon.
The neighborhood is made up mostly of manufactured and trailer homes.
“Berlin left the living area where the argument occurred and returned with the single-shot rifle and shot Griffith,” Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron said in a statement.
“Griffith was able to escape and ran to a neighbor’s house for help. It appears Berlin had been drinking.”
Because Griffith ran to the other house, crime-scene tape was placed around the yards of three houses surrounding the one in which the shooting occurred.
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles arrived within minutes of the shooting, parking along Alder Lane and Cottonwood Road.
Sequim police, Port Angeles police, Washington State Patrol and U.S. Border Patrol units all assisted.
__________
Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
