LA GRANDE — A Utah woman believed to be responsible for a drive-by shooting in La Grande early Monday, July 17, was arrested by the La Grande Police Department shortly after the incident.

The shooting was reported at 12:56 a.m. by Kristion Owen, 22, of La Grande, who called 911 to report the shooting on Highway 30 near Columbia Distributing. Owen explained he was driving his vehicle when the passenger of another vehicle fired 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 reported the car was heading toward Foothill Road.

Law enforcement officers from the La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police were immediately notified and responded to the area to search for the suspect vehicle.

Shortly after 1 a.m., a La Grande officer located the suspect vehicle on McAlister 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.

An investigation was immediately conducted and it was learned Owen was at the Flying J Travel Center when he was confronted by Burtchin, whom he did not know. Burtchin allegedly accused him of taking her cellphone and then showed Owen a handgun tucked in her waistband.

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 toward La Grande.

Vantassel pulled his vehicle alongside Owen’s in the oncoming lane of traffic and Burtchin allegedly fired one shot from a handgun, striking Owen’s driver’s side passenger door near the window — causing the window to break.

The investigating officers interviewed everyone involved and seized numerous items related to the case, including a handgun, ammunition and other weapons. Burtchin’s vehicle, a 2016 black Kia Sportage, was also seized.

Burtchin was arrested on charges of recklessly 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.

La Grande Lt. Jason Hays said charges against Vantassel are pending. The case remains under investigation and further charges may be pending.

Anyone with information to assist the police with this investigation are asked to contact La Grande Police Department Sr. Officer Ryan Herbel at 541-963-1017.