Washington State University offensive lineman Sone Falealo was shot early Sunday morning at an off-campus apartment party after the Apple Cup and is recovering after surgery, according to police and court documents.

Pullman Police identified Jakori Cezon Buchanan, a 20-year-old University of Washington student from Tukwila, Wash., as the suspected shooter, and a Whitman County judge issued a felony arrest warrant for him on charges of first- and fourth-degree assault.

The shooting occurred around 1:47 a.m. Sunday at an apartment complex about a mile from campus. Officers responding to a 911 call found Falealo with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to Pullman Regional Hospital, where surgeons removed the bullet. Police said the shot did not damage any organs.

Authorities said that Buchanan fled the scene, and he had not been arrested as of Monday evening.

According to an affidavit filed by Detective Sgt. Christopher Engle, Falealo and two friends — identified as fellow Cougars offensive linemen Jaylin Caldwell, a redshirt junior, and Xavier Thorpe, a redshirt freshman — were asked to act as security for the apartment party after earlier noise complaints. Witnesses told investigators that Buchanan, who was a guest at the gathering, was involved in multiple altercations that night.

One woman told investigators that Buchanan confronted her inside the apartment. Court records say he tried to punch her in the face but missed and struck her in the chest. When he tried to hit her again, she punched him back. At that point, Falealo, Caldwell and Thorpe intervened, according to police documents.

Buchanan was later involved in another altercation outside. Witnesses and surveillance footage showed Falealo confronting Buchanan in the backyard and knocking him to the ground. As Falealo and Caldwell held him down, an unidentified friend of Buchanan joined the struggle. At that point, police say, Buchanan pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired once, striking Falealo in the abdomen.

Several witnesses identified Buchanan as the shooter, one of whom told police she recognized him after looking at his Instagram profile, which matched his driver’s license photo. Investigators also reviewed bystander and surveillance footage showing the scuffle and the moment Buchanan appeared to draw a handgun. Officers later recovered a 9mm shell casing in the parking lot of the apartment.

Buchanan fled the scene with another man in a gray 2025 Hyundai Sonata with Minnesota license plates registered to a Hertz rental, according to police. Detectives later attempted to contact Buchanan by phone — he briefly returned a call but hung up after the officer identified himself, court documents said. A follow-up text message remained unanswered.

Whitman County Superior Court Judge Roger Sandberg signed the warrant for Buchanan’s arrest Sunday, citing probable cause for first- and fourth-degree assault. The warrant authorizes his arrest in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and California. No bail was granted pending his first court appearance.

Investigators noted that Falealo, Caldwell, Thorpe and others present at Saturday night’s party had no criminal histories and fully cooperated with police.

Falealo, a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman offensive tackle from Alaska, began his collegiate career at Idaho but did not appear as a true freshman last season. He transferred to Washington State over the summer and has yet to play for the Cougars.

Pullman Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and urged anyone with information about Buchanan’s whereabouts to contact authorities.

(Photo: James Snook / Imagn Images)