An Issaquah woman has been charged with assault in the first degree for shooting a man in the Issaquah Highlands July 14.

Just before 5:30 p.m. on July 14, Issaquah police responded to a domestic violence incident in the Avalon Wynhaven Apartments, located in the 1800 block of 16th Court Northeast.

A 35-year-old female, who has since been identified as Demica L. Watkins, allegedly shot her 40-year-old boyfriend in his right thigh.

“The couple was arguing about their relationship, and it escalated to the point where the female shot the male,” Issaquah police Support Services Commander Bob Porter stated.

Watkins was arrested for domestic violence assault in the second degree, and was booked into the King County Jail in Seattle early Saturday morning.

During her arraignment hearing on Tuesday, Watkins was charged with first-degree assault. Bail was set at $250,000.

As of Wednesday morning, Watkins remained in jail.

The victim was not fatally wounded, and he was transported to Overlake Hospital in Bellevue for care.

The man was reported to be in stable condition at Overlake Hospital that day and was released the next day.

“We were called because neighbors heard arguing and a gunshot,” Porter described. When police arrived, “the male had left the apartment and was lying on the sidewalk being taken care of by neighbors.”

Watkins, who herself called police and admitted to shooting her partner, “was very cooperative” and “came out peacefully,” according to Porter.

There were two children — Watkins’ 11-year-old daughter and her boyfriend’s 10-year-old son — in the apartment at the time of the alleged shooting.

The children were physically unharmed and did not witness the incident, as they had been in a different room from the couple.

Porter said that the children are being cared for by family members, and that both the Issaquah Police Department and Child Protective Services offer counseling services in such instances.

If convicted, Watkins could face years in jail, as first-degree assault is a felony.

Porter said that shooting incidents are very rare in Issaquah, but noted that just because the area is generally more well-off does not mean that it is free of domestic violence.

“It’s safe, it’s just — domestic violence crosses all socioeconomic boundaries,” Porter said.

He explained that “when people get upset and are in a relationship,” there is no telling what they may do.

For more information, please call the Issaquah Police Department at 425-837-3200.