Lacey shooting involved a robbery and drugs, detectives say

Lacey police arrested two people, and a third suspect is hospitalized, following a Saturday morning shooting and robbery. Investigators believe the incident was drug related.

Andrew “Drew” Cardenas, 26, and Kia “Kiki” Brantley, 34, appeared Monday in Thurston County Superior Court.

In Cardenas’ case, Court Commissioner Nathan Kortokrax found probable cause for four charges: first-degree assault, unlawful possession of heroin, unlawful possession of oxycodone, and unlawful possession of cocaine with intent to deliver.

Kortokrax found probable cause for a first-degree robbery charge in Brantley’s case.

A third suspect is in serious condition at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, according to Deputy Prosecutor Ali Abid. The Olympian doesn’t name suspects until they have appeared in court.

Lacey police responded to reports of shots fired on the 1100 block of Forrestal Place Northeast in Lacey just after 6 a.m. Saturday. Cardenas told officers that Brantley and the male suspect came to his home, and the male suspect claimed Cardenas owed him money, according to court documents. Cardenas said that he and the man had purchased some “bad cocaine” a few years ago, and the man blamed him.

Cardenas reported that the man choked him until he lost consciousness, punched him, and hit him in the face with a glass candle jar.

The man and Brantley left, and Cardenas reported that Brantley took a gun from his table on the way out, according to court documents.

Cardenas said he took another gun from the safe, and fired it seven times at the man, who was climbing into the passenger side of a car.

Medics took Cardenas to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. He had facial swelling and bruising, but no broken bones, according to court documents. He was later transported to the Thurston County jail.

Just before 8 a.m., Pierce County law enforcement reported to Thurston County investigators that a shooting victim had come to St. Clare Hospital in Lakewood, and was being transported to St. Joseph Medical Center with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Brantley also was located at St. Clare. She allegedly told a Lacey detective that she had been at Cardenas’ apartment. She denied taking the gun at first, but said it’s possible she might have taken it during the “stressful situation,” according to court documents.

Police found a car with bullet holes in an Olympia backyard. Inside, they found items taken from Cardenas’ home, along with the missing gun.

Detectives found a large amount of drug paraphernalia and heroin in Cardenas’ living room. He reportedly asked officers to retrieve a jacket for him, and they found a container of pills in the pocket.

Surveillance video from Cardenas home shows Brantley and the male suspect talking with Cardenas, and Cardenas showing them bags of cocaine. The footage also shows the assault on Cardenas, according to court documents.

Public Defender Christian Cabrera said Monday that Cardenas has no felony history, and the attack on him was unprovoked.

“He was at home, minding his own business, when violence came and visited him,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera said Brantley also has no felony history.

Kortokrax set bail at $25,000 for Cardenas and $5,000 for Brantley.

“Anytime firearms are involved, it’s a danger to the community,” Kortokrax said.

This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 5:41 AM with the headline "Lacey shooting involved a robbery and drugs, detectives say."