Attempted Robbery Leaves Male with Gunshot Wound to Chest
Two Juvenile Suspects Arrested
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives are investigating a robbery that left the adult male victim with a gunshot wound to the chest and fighting for his life. Two juvenile suspects were detained a short time later. Both suspects were booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Facility later in the evening after Detectives developed probable cause to charge them with Assault and Robbery.
On October 18, 2020, at approximately 2:35 pm, Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported shooting in the area of 55th and Crestline.
Spokane Police Department Officers (SPD) were the first to arrive at the scene and located the 19-year-old male victim seated in a red Toyota Camry's driver's seat. The male appeared to be suffering from one gunshot wound to his chest. They immediately began life-saving efforts and applied a chest seal to the injury. He was transported to the hospital with possible life-threatening wounds.
A short time later, Deputies arrived, relieved the SPD Officers, and began the investigation. Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detective and Forensic Unit Specialists were also summoned to the scene.
Initial information indicated two suspects, a white male, and a black male, were meeting with the victim to purchase a vaping pen. The victim met the suspects on the side of the road in the 2700 block of E. 55th. The victim remained in the vehicle as the suspects approached the car. Soon after, the white male suspect pulled out a handgun and demanded the victim’s car and money.
The victim thought the pistol was fake and started to drive away when he heard at least one gunshot and felt pain in his upper body. Realizing he had been shot, he was able to stop the car on 55th near Crestline and call 9-1-1.
The victim received assistance from citizens and a doctor who happened to live in the area until SPD Officers arrived.
Through the investigation, the names of the two juvenile suspects were obtained. Patrol Deputies located them at a residence in the 6100 block of S. Pittsburg. The suspects were safely detained and transported to the Public Safety Building to meet Major Crimes Detectives.
Detective Bohanek requested and was granted a search warrant for the residence on Pittsburg. During the search, a semiautomatic handgun of the same caliber of the spent shell casings recovered at the scene.
The suspects declined to answer questions or make any statements. As the investigation continued, Major Crimes Detectives developed probable cause to charge the suspects with Assault 1st Degree and Robbery 1st Degree. Both suspects were booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Center for those charges.
The victim remains hospitalized, listed in serious condition.