A man is facing a murder charge following a fatal shooting at the Ace of Clubs Tavern in Hoquiam last week.
Michael Robert Moore, 57, is charged with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon in prohibited places. Moore was arrested following the Thursday night, Sept. 15, incident, which left a 58-year-old Hoquiam man dead from a gunshot wound.
Hoquiam Police Department officers responded to an 8:58 p.m. call about a shooting, arriving at 9:01 p.m. to find the victim suffering from a gunshot, said Hoquiam Police Chief Joe Strong.
“All we know (is) there was a disturbance that developed inside the bar that spilled to outside the bar,” Strong said in a phone interview. “One shot was fired, resulting in the death of one of them.”
Paramedics attempted to stabilize the victim, but were unsuccessful, according to an HPD social media post— the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The HPD, Aberdeen Police Department, Grays County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol responded to the shooting, according to the social media post. Investigators have processed the scene of the incident, Strong said, and the investigation is ongoing.
“We are currently analyzing and acquiring video footage from nearby businesses and analyzing statements from numerous witnesses,” Strong said.
Approximately 20-25 people were present inside, with about five people outside at the time of the incident, Strong said. The incident is atypical for the city and for the bar itself, Strong said.
“We’ve had two deaths by homicidal violence (in Hoquiam) this year, which is an anomaly. Usually we have one a year,” Strong said. “This appears to be an isolated incident.”
Moore is currently detained in the Grays Harbor County Jail. Second-degree murder is a Class A felony, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of parole. Firearms are prohibited by state law in establishments classified by the state liquor control board as off-limits to people younger than 21.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, said HPD Lt. Jeff Salstrom.
