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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Travis Comeslast Gets 51 Years For Murder His Brother, Kenneth, Serving Life Term In Separate Murders

For the second time in 15 months, Sharon Comeslast listened Monday as a Spokane judge sentenced one of her sons to a lengthy prison term.

Travis Comeslast, 21, will serve 51 years in prison for first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.

Despite his mother’s plea for leniency, Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue imposed the high end of the sentencing range.

Comeslast was convicted of the June 27, 1996, murder of Chris Gongyin, 20, and the robbery of Gongyin’s wife, Barbara.

The same month, the defendant’s younger brother, Kenneth Comeslast, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the 1995 shooting deaths of two teenage girls in north Spokane.

Convicted of murdering Cindy Buffin and Kendra Grantham, Kenneth “Junior” Comeslast is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole.

Deputy Prosecutor Ed Hay recommended the maximum term for Travis Comeslast, saying the killing was the culmination of a history of violence.

Hay noted that since the age of 13, Comeslast has been convicted of six serious crimes, including two first-degree robberies and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Witnesses testified during the murder trial that Comeslast and a friend, Irvin Fentroy, went to Gongyin’s home on North Regal.

During the visit, Comeslast and Gongyin discussed the sale of a 9 mm gun, but the pair quarreled over the price, according to Fentroy’s testimony.

Fentroy testified that Gongyin, a small-time drug dealer, ran to his bedroom, claiming he would get his own gun. Comeslast ran after him and fired once, hitting Gongyin in the back of the head.

Comeslast then pointed the gun at Gongyin’s wife, who had been sleeping in the bedroom with her 13-month-old daughter, and demanded she hand over money and drugs.

Comeslast’s attorney, Doug Boe, asked jurors to acquit his client based on self-defense.

Boe said Comeslast was a quiet, sensitive man who was proud of his Sioux heritage, but fell victim to the lure of gangs and guns.

“My heart goes out to both the Comeslast family and to Barbara Gongyin,” Boe said.

, DataTimes