18-year-old charged in graffiti and shooting incident at Lee Elementary School

An 18-year-old East Wenatchee man accused of spraying graffiti and firing a gun at Lee Elementary School has now been formally charged

Prosecutors charged Enrique A. Torres on Tuesday with unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, illegal possession of a fully automatic firearm and third-degree malicious damage to property.

According to East Wenatchee police, Torres was one of two people seen on surveillance video spray-painting gang graffiti and firing a gun at Lee Elementary School.

Officials say the vandalism occurred on the night of May 14, with graffiti discovered later that day on the property of Lee Elementary School in East Wenatchee. Several portable classrooms, as well as a fence adjacent to the school, were daubed with gang-related graffiti. There were also reports of gunshots that night.

Police were able to identify two suspects on surveillance videos from the school. The suspects were seen spraying graffiti and firing a firearm.

Officers said video evidence led them to a nearby home in the 1300 block of Clements Circle where the suspects apparently exited before the incident. The home was connected to Torres.

The following Friday (May 17), police and SWAT officers executed a search warrant for the apartment. None of the suspects were present. However, officers found a fully automatic pistol as well as graffiti and gang paraphernalia.

On May 31, members of the Columbia River Drug Taskforce received a tip that Torres was at an apartment in the 1000 block of N Devon Avenue. He was arrested without incident.

The other suspect is still at large.

Torres is in jail on $75,000 bail and will be placed on electronic monitoring at home if released.

Torres’ next court date is next Thursday if he is still in custody, or the following Monday, June 17, if he is no longer in custody.