PORT ANGELES – A Port Angeles man is in custody today on an attempted murder charge for his actions on Monday.
Officers responded around 2:00pm to a report of a possibly suicidal man on Tenth Street between Chase and Peabody who was reportedly armed with a black powder pistol. By the time officers arrived, a witness was able to safely secure the pistol.
The initial investigation revealed that the suspect, 31-year-old Damien Cella, was upset about his friend being attacked five years ago. Cella, believing that justice had not been served, armed himself with the pistol and walked to the attacker’s house with intention of killing him.
Police say Cella walked nearly 10 miles to the house, but when he saw children there, he couldn’t go through with his plan. Cella was found a few blocks away from the house, was arrested and booked for attempted murder.
Deputy Chief Jason Viada cites a Washington State Law (RCW 9A.28.020) that says a person is guilty of an attempt to commit a crime if, with the intent to commit a specific crime, he or she does any act which is a substantial step toward the commission of that crime. In this case, walking 10 miles to a person’s house with a loaded weapon.