Police Department

Two Charged With 2nd Degree Murder from Rodeway Inn Death Investigation

Sgt. Terry Preuninger, PIO

Monday, March 2, 2020 at 4:43 p.m.

The  incident begain Thursday on 02/27/02 when SPD Officers responded to the area of Houston and Division on reports a male was breaking into cars.  When SPD arrived they contacted and detained Anthony Fuerte 09/03/92, who had been stopped by citizens and were holding him for police.  Fuerte was covered in blood and acting erratically, he had attempted and succeeded in entering numerous cars. 

Officers quickly determined he was a suspect from a Spokane County incident that had also recently taken place just outside the city.  Fuerte was given to Spokane County Sheriffs employees who charged him with 1st degree Robbery and Car Jacking and booked him on those charges.   See SCSO #2020-10026453. 

Fuerte had minor injuries but nothing that would have produced the amount of blood on his clothing. Fearing something even more serious may have happened SPD Officers and SCSO deputies checked the area including the Rodeway Inn looking for any other injured party or explanation for the blood, however they were unsuccessful.

 

Friday 02/28/20 SPD officers responded to the Rodeway Inn where an employee had located a dead body in one of the motel rooms.  MCU responded and  began their investigation. 

Major Crimes Detectives confirmed the death was a homicide and released suspect information to Patrol Officers who located suspect Lionel E White, 4/13/1987 at 901 W 1^st at the Ruby Hotel at 11:07 PM.  He was taken into custody without incident.  He was also in possession of methamphetamine. 

White was also involved in an assault on February 28^th  at the Downtowner Hotel located at 165 S Washington.  He is also wanted out of Yakima on an unrelated incident.

Detectives also confirmed Fuerte was the second suspect in the homicide and charged him with 2^nd Degree Murder, he was still in custody on the SCSO charges. 

Information regarding the victim will be released at a later date by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. 

The Spokane Police Department would like to thank the citizens who assisted in capturing Fuerte on the original incident.   Any citizens who have cell phone video or information regarding that incident and have not spoken with police are encouraged to call crime check at 456-2233 to pass on their information. 

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