Police: Gun in homicide belonged to felon
A gang member involved in a fatal shooting five years ago is accused of possessing the gun that was used to kill a man outside a north Spokane party 10 days ago, newly filed documents allege.
Eric
Burton Jr., is charged
with illegal weapons possession after police determined a semiautomatic rifle
used to kill John S. Williams, III on Jan. 17 belonged to
Police found Williams, 38, dead in
an alley outside an apartment building at 5405 N. Crestline about 3:40 a.m.,
then spotted
He volunteered to be taken to the
police station for questioning, where he told police he’d driven a rented 2008
Nissan Altima to the party. Police found the gun used to kill
Williams in the back of that Altima.
The car was rented to
About 40 people had gathered at
5405
One man told police he’d heard
two or three gunshots “and then heard someone saying ‘What did I do? What did I
do?,’” according to a search warrant.
The man then saw a man matching
the description of
A defense lawyer listed in court
records for
This year’s shooting victim, Williams, was at the birthday party on Crestline with his 21-year-old son, police said.
Williams was enrolled at the Spokane Community College
Apprenticeship and
“It’s hard right now,” he said. “There’s no work out there.”