Cd'A homes damaged by gunfire; alleged shooter arrested

COEUR d'ALENE — One of several Coeur d'Alene residences damaged by gunfire Monday was the home of the brother of a man who died earlier that day following a vehicle crash near Fernan Lake.

Morgan Vaughn, the girlfriend of the brother of Andrew Riggs, who was pulled from the lake and later died, said multiple homes off Atlas Road and at least one vehicle were struck by bullets late Monday night. The incident occurred not long after a balloon release ceremony was held in remembrance of Andrew Riggs at Independence Point.

Vaughn said she was unaware of any injuries and the apparent shooter was arrested in the neighborhood shortly after the alleged shootings. She didn't know exactly how many homes were hit. The shootings occurred just before midnight.

Vaughn and her boyfriend originally wondered if the shooting was linked to Riggs' death, she said, but after learning that multiple homes were shot at they now believe it was random and a coincidence.

"It was just a really bad day," Vaughn said. 

Vaughn said it appears three bullets went through the home behind the one she lives in and two of those entered her residence.

"It wasn't our house that was targeted," she said. "We thought the (gunshots) were fireworks going off at first because neighbors have been shooting them."

One of the bullets went through the front window where Vaughn's boyfriend had just been sitting, Vaughn said. The other was stopped by her son's car in the garage.

There were four people in the townhouse at the time, including Vaughn's 17-year-old son and his girlfriend.

Andrew Riggs was the passenger in a 1997 Ford Ranger that went over an embankment along the shore of Fernan Lake around 4:30 a.m. on Monday. The vehicle came to rest just above the water line, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office. The initial reports taken by investigators indicated the passenger was found in the water by the driver who pulled him out with the help of another person who responded to the scene.

Medical aid was rendered and Riggs was transported to Kootenai Health, where he was later pronounced dead.

Alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash, according to the KCSO, and an investigation is underway to determine how Riggs ended up in the water.

This is a developing story.