Police Department

Major Crimes Unit Makes Arrest in 2021 Homicide

Cpl. Nick Briggs, PIO

Friday, January 12, 2024 at 8:52 a.m.

On 01-10-24, SPD’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) detectives arrested 21-year-old Aaron R Holder for Murder 2^nd degree and Assault 1^st Degree. Holder was initially apprehended by Downtown patrol officers for an unrelated warrant, and a subsequent investigation by detectives yielded probable cause for the earlier assault. The arrest stems from an attack which occurred on 06-07-2021, just before 6AM, in the 200 block of W 1^st Ave in Downtown Spokane. The victim, later identified by the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office as Justin Combs, succumbed to his injuries ten days later. Combs was 34-years-old at the time of his death.

The investigation revealed a brutal and seemingly unprovoked attack; the victim was struck repeatedly in the head with a rock while he was lying on the ground in a sleeping bag. At this point in the investigation there does not appear to be a relationship between the suspect and victim, nor an indication they had an interaction prior to the attack.

The investigation remains on-going. At the writing of this release, Holder is being held in the Spokane County Jail.

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