Auburn man’s anger over ex’s new boyfriend led to shooting at Puyallup home, charges say
An Auburn man accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend had threatened them in the past, according to prosecutors.
Gabriel Elijah Gilbert, 20, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and drive-by shooting for the Oct. 21 shooting that left a 19-year-old man injured.
Gilbert was looking for his ex-girlfriend at a Puyallup home when he allegedly shot the man in the arm. The man was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Gilbert’s behalf during his arraignment on Wednesday, court records show. Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Philip Thornton set his bail at $750,000.
Charging details
Pierce County deputies were dispatched at 12:20 a.m. to a shooting at the 17000 block of 93rd Avenue Court East. The victim was injured from the gunshot wound, and deputies spoke to Gilbert’s ex-girlfriend, who had been living at the home. The victim’s mother was also inside the home during the shooting, according to charging documents.
One of the deputies recognized Gilbert’s girlfriend because she previously reported that he was trying to find out where she lived. Gilbert also allegedly threatened to shoot the woman and her boyfriend, prosecutors wrote.
The woman said that before the shooting she and her boyfriend heard someone knocking on the door and ringing the doorbell. Through a window, she saw Gilbert outside, prosecutors wrote. He allegedly pulled out a pistol once her boyfriend opened the door. Her boyfriend shut the door and Gilbert allegedly fired the pistol several times, striking the victim. He then ran away from the house, prosecutors wrote.
The woman said Gilbert allegedly offered money to their mutual friend to give him the victim’s address, prosecutors wrote. She had dated Gilbert for over a year before they broke up. Her relationship with the victim began two months earlier.
The victim confirmed he was “absolutely sure” that the alleged shooter was Gilbert as they knew each other personally, prosecutors wrote. He also said that he was “beefing” with Gilbert because he was dating the woman.
Ring-camera footage allegedly showed Gilbert shooting through the front door twice and at a room upstairs multiple times. Video footage from a neighbor’s camera allegedly captured Gilbert driving away from the area in a Subaru that was last seen in Auburn, documents show.
Auburn police officers saw Gilbert driving the Subaru at around 2:27 a.m. He allegedly tried to drive away from them, but police stopped the Subaru and detained Gilbert, prosecutors wrote. A Pierce County deputy eventually arrested Gilbert.
During an interview, Gilbert allegedly denied having a gun and said he did not have anything to do with the shooting, prosecutors wrote. The firearm allegedly used in the shooting was not located inside the Subaru.
The woman’s report that alleged Gilbert had threatened her and her boyfriend in the past is being reviewed separately, prosecutors wrote.
Gilbert does not have any prior criminal convictions, court documents show.
