A spate of drive-by shootings recently in the Seattle area left a vehicle shot up, a 96-year-old woman wounded and several suspects behind bars.

In late June, a 96-year-old woman was shot in the leg when someone opened fire on her home in the early morning hours. The victim's granddaughter called police to say her grandmother had been shot. Police do not believe the victim was the intended target of the shooting. Officers have responded to the home repeatedly to investigate shootings targeting family members who live at the home, according to The Seattle Times.

Also in late June, Seattle police arrested two men in connection with a drive-by shooting after witnesses described their car. Officers chased the car in which four men were riding and pulled over the vehicle. Police detained three men, the fourth man got away. Officers determined one of the occupants was not involved in the drive-by. Two men were arrested, suspected of multiple charges related to the shooting, including eluding police and unlawful possession of a 9-mm handgun believed to have been used in the shooting, even though it does not appear they injured anyone.

Police in Lynnwood, Washington, north of Seattle were looking for two men in early July in connection with a drive-by shooting that left a vehicle with bullet holes. The shooters were driving a blue van. Just before 6 p.m. on the evening of the shooting, police received a call reporting the incident. They found two men in a vehicle that had bullet holes. Police did not release any information about the men or whether they were injured.

In Washington, a person is guilty of drive-by shooting when he or she recklessly discharges a firearm in a manner which creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person and the discharge is either from a motor vehicle or from the immediate area of a motor vehicle that was used to transport the shooter or the firearm, or both, to the scene of the shooting.

Drive-by shooting is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both.

The charge of reckless endangerment includes aspects similar to the charge of drive-by shooting, however reckless endangerment is a lesser charge that specifically excludes drive-by shootings. That is because, “the legislature finds that increased trafficking in illegal drugs has increased the likelihood of drive-by shootings. It is the intent of the legislature ... to categorize such reckless and criminal activity into a separate crime and to provide for an appropriate punishment."

No matter the crime, every defendant has a right to representation by a qualified attorney. If you have been arrested and face criminal charges, call the Seattle law office of Steve Karimi at (206) 621-8777 or contact him online.