By Pepper Fisher
SEQUIM – A Sequim man was arrested Wednesday and may be charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at a woman in her residence.
Neighbors say 66-year-old James Donald Luoma approached a 49-year-old acquaintance at her home in the 700 block of West Heritage Loop around 5:45pm and fired several shots at her. She wasn’t hit, but police say a struggle ensued and she was able to wrestle the gun from Luoma and shoot him in the hand.
When police arrived, they say the woman rushed out of her residence toward the officers screaming for help, covered in blood and telling officers that someone was trying to kill her.
We asked Police Chief Sheri Crain to describe the nature of the relationship between the suspect and the victim.
“It was not a domestic violence situation. There was not a dating relationship. But, the female victim was in the process of trying to get an anti-harassment order. So the intentions there were directed towards that individual. Other people in the neighborhood actually saw some of these events unfold and were certainly valuable when it came to piecing together what happened last night.”
Officers found Luoma bleeding profusely from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his left thumb. Luoma immediately surrendered to officers without incident and is being treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
“Yeah, he was receiving medical attention for an injury to his hand, and when he is released our officer will take him into custody.”
Charges are pending.