Snohomish man charged in Folklife shootings

The 22-year-old Snohomish man accused of firing a gunshot at Seattle's Folklife Festival last weekend, wounding three people, was charged today with one count of second-degree assault.

Prosecutors allege that Clinton Chad Grainger, a housepainter with a history of drug addiction and schizophrenia, intentionally injured Henry Morris, Sarah Thorsnes and Josh Penaluna.

Charging documents say the incident, which happened about 6:30 p.m. Saturday north of the International Fountain, began when Grainger looked at Morris as if he was looking for a fight.

Grainger asked Morris his name and when he wouldn't tell him pushed him in the chest. Grainger then reached toward his ankle where he wore an ankle holster with a 9-mm Glock pistol, charging documents say.

Morris tackled Grainger in an attempt to wrestle the gun away from Grainger. A friend of Morris' joined in and both were trying to hold Grainger when the gun went off so close to Morris' face he suffered powder burns on the upper lip and nose, charging papers allege.

The stray bullet passed through Penaluna's hand and then went into Thorsnes' thigh. They were uninvolved in the fight and were taken to Harborview Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

Grainger is being held on $350,000 bail. He has a history of anxiety and schizophrenia, according to court documents, and has been on methadone since he was 18 for drug addiction.

Grainger had a concealed weapon permit for the handgun.