Police Department

Drive by shooting suspect taken into custody

Officer Daniel Strassenberg Public Information Office

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 1:48 p.m.

On August 26^th, 2024 at just after midnight SPD responded to the area of 100 West Sinto on a report of a shooting.  Upon arriving, officers were advised that an unknown male pointed a handgun at several people in a parking lot before firing a shot into the front grill of an occupied vehicle.  The suspect along with several other subjects then drove away.  A shell casing was located near the front of the vehicle that was struck by the gunfire.

The shooting took place after an argument inside a local business.  The suspect, who was not part of the initial altercation, arrived at the location shortly after.  Officers were provided with cell phone video of part of the incident and with that, were able to identify the involved suspects to include the male who discharged the firearm. 

Detectives with SPD’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU), Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) identified an address in the 1100 block of West Augusta that was associated with the suspects.  After applying for and being granted a search warrant, MCU and VCTF surrounded the location and detained several subjects.  The primary suspect in the shooting was taken into custody without incident.  During the course of the follow up investigation at the Augusta address, detectives located several firearms, ammunition and shell casings.

Joshua D. Cruz (35) was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Drive by Shooting, 1^st Degree Assault and 2^nd Degree Malicious Mischief.    

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