Police Department

SPD Arrests Homicide Suspect

Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager, 509.625.5868

Monday, July 26, 2021 at 8:19 a.m.

SPD makes an arrest in a homicide at the Intermodal Center in Downtown Spokane

On July 23, 2021, police officers arrested Samual F. Tesch-Villa, age 19, after developing probable cause for 1^st Degree Murder in the death of 34 year old  Justin P. Combs.

On June 7, 2021, SPD responded to an assault at 221 W. 1^st Ave – the Intermodal bus and train station. Combs was found by a passerby on the corner of the property bleeding from the head and unresponsive. He was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries where he died 10 days later.

SPD Downtown Neighborhood Resource Officers (NRO’s) on bike patrol were actively looking for Tesch-Villa at the request of Major Crimes Detectives. The investigation was aided by witnesses coming forward and security videos. Tesch-Villa was booked into the Spokane County Jail.

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