Oak Harbor police arrested a 37-year-old man in connection with a shooting that occurred outside an apartment building on Northeast Barron Drive Thursday afternoon, according to Police Chief Tony Slowik.

The victim, a 47-year-old man, was shot in the torso during an altercation. He was transported to WhidbeyHealth Medical Center, where he was stabilized and then transported by ambulance to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, according to Slowik. A helicopter wasn’t available because of the bad weather.

The victim was in stable condition as of Thursday night, the chief said.

Police arrested Ronald S. Cabell on suspicion of assault in the first degree.

Slowik said detectives served search warrants on an apartment and a car in the area.

Cabell was previously arrested by Oak Harbor police in 2010 on suspicion of assault in the first degree for stomping a man’s head during a fight on Pioneer Way. He was convicted of assault in the second degree and received an exceptional sentence of 21 months in prison.

Cabell’s petition to have his right to possess a firearm restored was granted by a judge in 2022. The judge has no discretion in the matter if a defendant qualifies under the condition set forth in state law, which includes going five years without a felony or domestic violence conviction.

Slowik said detectives are still looking into the possible motive behind the shooting. Cabell allegedly shot a handgun once or twice; the gun was recovered at the scene, Slowik said.

The shooting occurred in a dense area of apartment buildings. The shooting was reported at 3:40 p.m., which is the time that school buses go through the area to drop off kids. Slowik said James Croft, the owner of the nearby Roller Barn, opened the building up as a alternate drop-off spot for buses and to families who were temporarily displaced by the investigation.

Slowik said he was also impressed by how well the many first responders worked together at the scene, which was initially chaotic. He urges anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Jenn Gravel at 360-279-4600.