Two men arrested in shooting that left dad-to-be unable to walk, Washington cops say

Two men have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting that left a soon-to-be dad unable to walk, perhaps for the rest of his life, Washington police said.

Jonathan Spear, 35, was working in his garden when he was shot twice Sunday, according to a news release from the Yakima Police Department.

Jose Angel Ortega, 19, is accused of shooting Spear and faces charges of drive-by shooting and first-degree assault, the department said in a release Wednesday.

Gabriel Farias, 22, who is accused of driving the car, was arrested Tuesday night and faces a charge of rendering criminal assistance, the department said.

“My hope is this will help bring some relief to the shooting victim’s family and help the Barge-Chestnut area feel some restored sense of safety and security,” Capt. Jay Seely said in the release.

Officers arrived around 5:20 p.m. Sunday and found Spear lying on the sidewalk while a neighbor administered first aid, police said. Witnesses said they saw a blue Ford Taurus speeding away after gunshots rang out, according to the release.

Spear was taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital before being flown with his pregnant wife to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for surgery, police and Spear’s family said.

One of the bullets severed Spear’s spine, breaking three vertebrae, his brother said in a Facebook post.

“It is doubtful he will ever walk again,” according to a GoFundMe page started by Spear’s family.

Spear’s story touched at least 788 people, who collectively donated $111,051.

Spear is a “dedicated, core volunteer at Yakima Rotary Food Bank,” the group said on its Facebook page.

Spear also serves on the board of directors at La Casa Hogar, a nonprofit that “connects and educates Latino families” in the Yakima Valley, according to the organization’s website.

“More than money, we ask for your prayers for a miracle,” Caleb Spear wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Please pray that Jonathan would have a swift recovery and regain the capacity to live a full and productive life.”

This story was originally published June 9, 2021 at 4:21 PM with the headline "Two men arrested in shooting that left dad-to-be unable to walk, Washington cops say."