No charges yet against alleged pro-Trump protest shooter

While the case hasn’t been dropped, the Thurston County Prosecutor’s office is waiting for more evidence in a case against a man accused of shooting a protestor on the Capitol Campus on Dec. 12.

Forest M. Machala, 25, of Bellingham, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault. However, the prosecutor’s office decided not to file charges against Machala at this time. Instead, they’re allowing the Washington State Patrol to continue its investigation on Machala.

Machala was reportedly present on the capitol campus on Dec. 12 as part of a protest supporting President Donald Trump's election results claims. He’s accused of shooting a counter protestor in the abdomen. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment.

According to court documents, police obtained multiple videos taken around the time of the shooting. In one of them, a man — whom police believe to be Machala — can be seen walking while manipulating an apparent gun in his hand. An audible gunshot is heard in the video. In another video, a gunshot is heard, and a man dressed in black falls to the ground, as though he was shot. Other people dressed in black run for cover. Machala is allegedly seen on video, a handgun clearly seen in his hand, according to police. People in the crowd shout, “You just shot somebody.”

After the alleged shooting, Machala was seen getting into his vehicle, where he was arrested by a WSP SWAT team. He had a Glock 9mm handgun in a holster at his waist — one round in the chamber and an additional seven in the magazine. The magazine could hold 10 bullets, according to court documents, meaning two were unaccounted for.

At the scene of the shooting, police found an unfired 9mm round on the ground. Police believe Machala’s gun may have jammed at the scene, so he cleared the jam by discarding one bullet (In court documents, police again referenced that Machala was seen in the video manipulating the gun in his hand, which investigators believe was to clear the jammed gun).

Machala was placed on $50,000 bail, which he posted and was released shortly after his arrest.

Jesse Knudsen, community engagement specialist with the prosecutor’s office, in an email to The JOLT, said the evidence against Machala at this time isn’t enough to file criminal charges.

“We look at the case for evidence ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ not just ‘probable cause’ which is the standard for an arrest,” wrote Knudsen.

Knudsen wrote that the prosecutor’s office can’t comment on specific facts of the case, due to the ongoing investigation.