Two men were arrested after deputies with the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched in an in-progress shooting on the beach north of Caples Extension Road in Woodland on Jan. 1 at about 3:55 p.m.
In a social media post, the sheriff’s office stated three victims reported a truck occupied by two suspects drove onto the beach and began firing a rifle at them.
“The victims yelled and waved at the suspects to stop but when the shooting continued, they had to seek cover and call 911,” stated the sheriff’s office.
The victims estimated that seven to 10 rounds were fired at them. The suspects then fled the scene in the vehicle. None of the people involved were struck by gunfire.
Officers with the Woodland Police Department located the vehicle and suspects near the 4000 block of Dike Road in Woodland. They were taken into custody without incident and a .22 caliber rifle and several spent casings were located inside the vehicle, according to the post.
The suspects reportedly admitted to shooting the rifle from the vehicle but claimed to not know the victims were in the area.
“The location is a beach frequently utilized by the public, has visible occupied campsites near it, multiple barges moored in the vicinity, and several residences nearby,” stated the sheriff’s office.
There is no known connection between the suspects and the victims and witnesses.
The suspects, Benjamin Cresap, 20, of Woodland and Travis Kowalski, 20, of Battle Ground, were booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on charges of drive-by shooting.
