Police Department

Homicide Investigation Underway After Morning Shooting

Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager, 509.625.5868

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at 4:39 p.m.

SPD responds to a man lying in the street with gunshot wounds

At approximately 2:30 this morning – Wed. Oct. 20^th, 2021 – Spokane Police responded to a report of shots fired and a man down at Cedar and Boone. Upon arrival they found a man in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers provided initial medical aid before medics arrived, but the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene. SPD’s Major Crimes Unit responded and began an investigation. Several shell casings were located but no weapon was recovered. At this time the suspect/s is unknown. If you have any information about this incident and have not already talked to police, please call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.

This was the 10^th homicide in the city of Spokane this year. SPD detectives have identified and facilitated the arrest of the primary suspect in 8 of 9 cases, not including this morning’s death. These are unofficial numbers which may change by the end of the year with additional charges and information in, or categorizing of, various cases. There were 21 homicides in Spokane in 2020. Homicides in both 2020 and 2021 do not appear to follow one underlying theme, but occurred for a variety of reasons, including drugs, domestic violence, gang affiliations, and more.

Information recently shared by the Washington Association of Sheriff and Police Chiefs (WASPC) shows a continued increase in the number of firearm homicides and nonfatal shootings across the country. That following the biggest one-year increase – nearly 30% –  on record for homicides in the United States in 2020, according to FBI figures. Washington State experienced a record number of homicides last year as well at 302, up 45% from the previous year.

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