Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest Offers Reward
2 Attempted Murder, Robbery, Kidnapping, and Assault Suspects Sought, 1 Arrested this Morning
Spokane Valley Major Crimes and Investigative Unit Detectives are attempting to locate two suspects wanted for attempted: Murder 1st Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree, and Assault 1st Degree. Investigators believe the suspects committed these crimes during what appears to have been a drug deal. These suspects should be considered armed and dangerous.
*** Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a reward. ***
On December 25, 2019, at approximately 9:45 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a report of gunshots and a bloody male at a residence located in the 900 block of N. Calvin.
Arriving Deputies contacted an angry homeowner who was yelling for them to get the victim out of his home.
Deputy Derek McNall followed the blood trail into the home and contacted the 27-year-old male victim lying on the living room floor with blood on his face. The left leg of the victim’s jeans was soaked with blood from the knee down. With the victim’s vast amount of blood loss and showing signs of shock, Deputy McNall recognized the injury was life-threatening and applied a tourniquet to try and stop the victim’s severe bleeding.
The victim initially told Deputies he met with a male to purchase an iPhone from Craigslist. After getting into the male’s car, the male drove around the block and attacked, stabbed, and pistol-whipped him. As the victim fled on foot, he heard several gunshots, but he was not shot. The victim was transported to a hospital for continued medical care.
Due to the severity of the crime, Major Crimes and Investigative Unit Detectives responded to continue the investigation. The victim’s iPhone, a small zippered pouch containing over $2,400 (mostly $20s and some $50s), prescription pills, a key FOB, and his jacket, were collected, as evidence, from the living room floor. A bloody knife was located in the street and also collected as evidence.
On December 26, 2019, at approximately 2:20 p.m., Major Crimes Detective Mike Ricketts interviewed the victim at the hospital. He again said he met a guy to purchase an iPhone from a Craigslist ad. He got into the suspect’s passenger seat and noticed there was another male seated behind the driver. They drove around the corner and parked. They asked if the victim had the money, and the victim opened his pouch, showing the large amount of cash. The male in the backseat put a rope or something around his neck, grabbing the victim from behind. The victim said he couldn’t breathe as another male opened the car door and pointed a pistol at him while one stabbed him. He said he was pistol-whipped, and during the ensuing struggle, the gun went off but he didn’t think anyone was shot. He was able to break free and run to a nearby home.
Eventually, the victim admitted he had lied. He explained he met the three suspects to purchase heroin and he brought a .357 revolver, tucked in his waistband, with him. When he got in the vehicle, a suspect grabbed the pistol and began hitting the victim in the head with it. During a struggle for the pistol, it fired, and he was stabbed by one of the other suspects. He eventually knocked the male with the gun to the ground and fled on foot. He heard gunshots as he ran away but he was not shot.
As the investigation continued, the victim’s version of the incidents changed, and he eventually became uncooperative, refused to answer additional questions, and stated he didn’t want to pursue charges. He was later released from the hospital.
Through the investigation, Detectives identified the suspects as 38-year-old Nicholas J. Foss, 27-year-old Justin D. Rounds, and 26-year-old Kody M. Scott.
With the assistance of SVIU Detective J.P. Melton and Sergeant Pat Bloomer, Detective Mike Ricketts developed probable cause to charge the three suspects. He obtained warrants charging Foss, Rounds, and Scott with attempted Murder 1st Degree, Kidnapping 1st Degree, Robbery 1st Degree and Assault 1st Degree.
On January 2, 2020, at approximately 11:15 a.m. Spokane Valley Patrol Deputies and SVIU Detectives took Scott into custody for his warrants.
At this time, Foss and Rounds have NOT been arrested, and Investigators would like tips from the public to help locate them.
It is not known if any of the suspects were injured during this incident. This remains an active investigation and additional charges are possible.
*** Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a reward. ***
Persons with information regarding the whereabouts of 38-year-old Nicholas J. Foss or 27-year-old Justin D. Rounds are urged to call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-222-TIPS or going to www.p3tips.com. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the cash reward.
Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is a civilian organization that promotes public safety by paying cash rewards for information that solves crimes. It is not affiliated with law enforcement. Full Disclosure of reward requirements is available at http://www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org.
###
