A 39-year-old Everson, Washington resident was federally charged late Wednesday with being a felon in possession of a firearm following a shooting in Blaine. The charge adds to his list of nine previous criminal convictions.
Nathaniel A. Muniz-Spry was taken into custody at a Whatcom County hospital after an early morning shooting near the U.S. and Canada border in Blaine on June 16, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
Arrest follows border encounter that ended with Muniz-Spry shot in the leg
U.S. Border Patrol agents were sent to the area near the border after a surveillance camera showed someone walking in an area that is frequently used for illegal border crossings and smuggling activity, according to records filed in the case.
Agents made contact with Muniz-Spry and worked to confirm his identity. During the encounter, officials learned that he had an “approach with caution” alert in his records stemming from a prior contact with law enforcement.
Officers searched Muniz-Spry and an officer felt a gun located in his waistband. Muniz-Spry resisted agents and ultimately broke away as an agent secured the firearm.
Muniz-Spry attempted to flee but was shot in the leg. He was later transported to the hospital for medical care and was released to law enforcement later in the day.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd told “The Jason Rantz Show” on Seattle Red 770 AM that the suspect is known to law enforcement.
“He has a criminal history that would certainly give any officer some concern. I can’t get into too much detail because we’re in the process of looking at charges. I guess the important thing I want to emphasize, though, is that when something like this happens, it divides everybody into two groups,” Floyd said. “Initially, when the report comes in, most people, some people look at this and say, ‘That’s unfortunate for the officers. I hope everyone is OK.’ Another group looks at this and says, ‘These officers obviously did something wrong, and we need to try and find out what that was.’
“My job is to remain neutral on that, look at the facts, because ultimately, at the end of this, I’m going to end up prosecuting somebody,” he continued. “But what I can tell you right now is that we’re looking at every aspect. There was a gun recovered at the scene, and we’re at this point trying to make sure everything was done properly, but, like I said, this is not someone who was unknown to us.”
Federal charge adds to a lengthy record of nine prior criminal convictions
DOJ noted Muniz-Spry is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to the following criminal convictions:
- Unlawful possession of a firearm: Skagit County, 2018
- Unlawful possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle: Skagit County, 2018
- Possession of a stolen vehicle: Skagit County, 2018
- Bail jumping: Whatcom County, 2018
- Unlawful possession of a firearm in the first degree: Whatcom County, 2018
- Burglary in the second degree: Whatcom County, 2014
- Bail jumping: Whatcom County, 2014
- Felony violation of a no-contact order: Whatcom County, 2011
- Residential burglary: Whatcom County, 2009
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from a joint law enforcement effort including the Blaine Police Department, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
