Neighbor hears a 'thump' and sees man lying in driveway next door with arrow in his chest after acquaintance shot him, jury finds

A jury in Washington state convicted a man who “hunted down” and shot an acquaintance to death with a bow and arrow during an early morning argument.

Richard “Cole” Vanderhoek, 49, was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting of 42-year-old David Collins in Vancouver, court records say.

According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by The Oregonian, Vanderhoek called 911 around 6:45 a.m. on April 2, 2024, and said he was assaulted.

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Deputies found Collins dead on the ground with an arrow in his chest outside a home in the 3200 block of NE Petticoat Lane. Vanderhoek reportedly told deputies that he “told him to stop assaulting me,” referring to Collins. Cops noted that Vanderhoek had several scrapes on his face and elbow, and he repeatedly asked them to take photos of his injuries.

A neighbor told deputies they heard an ongoing argument between the two men that turned physical. Collins tried to walk away, but Vanderhoek “aggressively” drove toward him. The neighbor said they heard a “thump” and saw Collins on the ground with an arrow in his chest.

“The defendant essentially hunted down this victim, driving aggressively, revving his engine, after the victim had dissipated,” said prosecuting attorney Luka Vitasovic during a first appearance, local ABC affiliate KATU reported.

Vanderhoek claimed self-defense, telling deputies, “I didn’t know what to do.”

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The fact that he shot Collins with the bow and arrow when a fence separated the two negated any claims of self-defense, prosecutors said.

Cops arrested Vanderhoek that day and took him to the Clark County Jail, where he’s been ever since.

The defendant is slated to be sentenced on Sept. 30.

Sabrina Meyer, Collins’ sister, told the Spokesman-Review that her brother was ripped from her.

“I actually have a voicemail that my daughter was able to save from her birthday last year where he’s singing in this high-pitched, atrocious, atrocious voice. But it’s so beautiful,” she told the newspaper. “And he would just make you giggle,” she said about her brother. “No matter what, he was calling in to check on us. He never forgot anything … He was our big brother.”

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