Police Department

Suspect with Violent History Arrested For Downtown Assault

Cpl. Nick Briggs, PIO

Monday, February 6, 2023 at 12:35 p.m.

Update 3/16/23:

SPD detectives link a suspect in a downtown assault earlier this year to another assault in September 2022

On September 15, 2022, around 4:00 am in the Downtown Spokane area, a female was approached outside her apartment complex by an unknown male.  The male made sexual advances towards the victim after she refused to give him a cigarette.  The victim attempted to ignore the suspect before he viciously attacked her, stabbing her in the hip area and punching her several times.  The victim was able to break away from her attacker, contact police and describe the male suspect.  She was transported to a local hospital for her injuries. 

In a separate incident in January 2023, Avondre C. Graham (28) was arrested for assaulting a female in the downtown area in a similar manner to the September 2022 incident. Due to the similarities in the two assaults, SPD detectives were also able to link Graham to the September attack.   He is now charged with another count of assault in the second degree with sexual motivation and remains in the Spokane County Jail. 

Additionally, since Graham’s January arrest, SPD detectives have also charged him with 5 DV order violations stemming from a previous DV assault.

Graham was released from prison in early 2022 after serving 10 years for stabbing another woman to death in 2012. 

Original Release 2/6/23:

Suspect with violent history arrested for Downtown assault

On 01-27-2023, just before 9AM, an adult female was walking near Main and Stevens in Downtown Spokane. The woman was accosted by a male suspect who reportedly made a vulgar sexual comment before abruptly assaulting the victim. The suspect knocked the victim to the ground and struck her repeatedly. Several bystanders heard the assault and quickly came to the victims aid, apparently interrupting the incident and causing the suspect to flee. The victim sustained serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Responding SPD officers began collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and searching for the suspect. About an hour later, SPD officers located the suspect near the Monroe St. Bridge. The suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Avondre Graham, was detained. During the detention process, Graham behaved violently; he attempted to kick and headbutt officers, and at one point reached for an officer’s firearm while stating that he would take the gun and kill the officer with it. He also attempted to spit on an officer.

Numerous pieces of evidence linked Graham to the seemingly unprovoked assault, and he was booked into Spokane County Jail.

Graham is a two-time convicted felon. In 2013 he plead guilty to Murder 2^nd Degree after stabbing a woman to death. Graham’s criminal history also includes a robbery conviction stemming from a separate attack of a woman which occurred after the murder.

He was booked into Spokane County Jail and is being held on charges that include Assault 2^nd Degree (substantial bodily harm -sexual motivation), and resisting arrest. He also faces charges for an unrelated investigation. Graham is currently under Department of Corrections supervised release.

At the writing of this release Graham remains in-custody. Additional charges are possible.

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