Drive By Shooting Leads to Arrest

UPDATE
Thursday, July 20, 2023 / 3:14PM

Today, at 2:53PM, Isaac Vantassel was arrested on a Union County Arrest Warrant for Assault I, Unlawful Use of a Weapon x2, Reckless Endangering Another Person x2, Menacing, and Reckless Driving. These charges are related to his involvement in this case. Vantassel was booked into the Union County Jail without incident. This case remains under investigation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, July 17, 2023 / 5:00AM

CONTACT
Jason Hays
Lieutenant - La Grande Police Department
541-963-1017 / office    jhays@cityoflagrande.org
 

DRIVE BY SHOOTING LEADS TO ARREST

On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 12:56AM, Kristion Owen (22) of La Grande called 911 to report he was the victim of a drive by shooting that just occurred on Highway 30 near Columbia Distributing in La Grande.  Owen explained he was driving his car when the passenger of another car shot at him, shooting out one of his car windows.  Owen said the person who shot at him was a female with red hair and was in a black colored sport utility vehicle.  Owen said the suspect vehicle was no longer following him and had turned, heading towards Foothill Road.

Police officers from the La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police were immediately notified and responded to the area to attempt to locate the suspect vehicle.  At 1:03AM, a La Grande Police Department officer located the suspect vehicle on McCallister Road near Highway 30 and conducted a traffic stop.  The female suspect, Athena Burtchin (27) of South Salt Lake, Utah was immediately detained and a loaded .45 caliber pistol was seized.

During the investigation, it was learned Owen was at the Flying J when he was confronted by Burtchin, whom he did not know.  Burtchin accused him of taking her cell phone and then showed Owen a handgun that was tucked in her waist band.  Owen immediately left the Flying J driving away in his own vehicle.  Burtchin and her driver, Issaac Vantassel (21) of La Grande quickly followed Owen, driving at high speeds on Highway 30 heading towards La Grande.  Vantassel then pulled his vehicle alongside Owen’s vehicle in the oncoming lane of traffic and Burtchin fired one shot from a handgun, striking Owen’s driver’s side passenger door near the window – causing the window to break.  Owen was not injured in the incident.

The investigating officers interviewed everyone involved and seized numerous items of evidentiary value, including a handgun, ammunition and other weapons.  The suspect vehicle, a 2016 black Kia Sportage belonging to Burtchin was also seized.

Burtchin was arrested for Attempted Assault I, Reckless Endangering Another Person, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Menacing, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Carrying of a Concealed Weapon.  She was booked into the Union County Jail without incident.

This investigation is ongoing and further charges may be pending.  Anyone who may have information to assist the police with this investigation are requested to contact Sr. Ofc. Ryan Herbel with the La Grande Police Department (541.963.1017).

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