Two arrested in homicide

Two people wanted in connection with a downtown Spokane killing were apprehended by police Wednesday evening at a North Spokane home. A third man turned himself in to the Spokane County Jail an hour later.

Jim Johnston, 40, was shot in his abdomen about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment at 1281/2 N. Division Street. He was found dead by police upon their arrival soon after the shooting, said Lt. Scott Stephens, commander of the Major Crimes Unit.

On Wednesday evening, police arrested Robert T. Spencer, 41, and Abigail M. Meckle, 20, at a house at 6102 N. Calispel. Police used nearby Madison Elementary School as a base for SWAT team operations, and officers persuaded the suspects to surrender.

Officers believed that Bryan M. James, 24, still was inside the home and were drawing up plans to get him to come out when they were notified that he had come to the jail with one of his parents to turn himself in. Police spokesman Dick Cottam said it appears that James slipped away from the house before it was put under surveillance about 3 p.m.

Spokane police believe that Tuesday’s incident began when Spencer was assaulting a woman at the apartment building where Johnston later would be killed, Stephens said. The woman was bloodied during that altercation.

“He was attempting to convince her that she should commit acts of prostitution,” Stephens said. “He would be her agent.”

Johnston intervened to try to stop the assault, Stephens said.

Spencer left the building but soon came back with James and Meckle. Witnesses told detectives that Spencer hit Johnston on the head with a pipe and James shot him.

James was booked into jail on one count of second-degree murder. Spencer was booked on second-degree assault, and Meckle was released Wednesday evening.

The trio allegedly fled in an Oldsmobile that police found abandoned Wednesday morning. Investigators received a tip on Wednesday that they might be at the North Spokane home.

Police do not have any indication that Johnston knew his assailants or the woman who was assaulted by Spencer. Stephens said previous to Wednesday’s arrests that it appears the only motive for the crime was that Johnston had attempted to stop Spencer from beating her.

“It’s difficult for most people to comprehend that there are people who will use violence against other people for no good reason,” Stephens said.

Each of those arrested for the crime has a crime record in Spokane County.

James was wanted for a June 27 drive-by shooting near Crestline Street and Marietta Avenue.

In that incident, one man was shot in the leg and another was shot in his torso. Both required surgery, but survived. Police believe James was the driver and shooter, and a $1,000 reward had been offered for information leading to his arrest.

In late 2003, James finished serving about three years in prison for stabbing a man. The victim told police that seven or eight men entered a house he was at with friends and demanded valuables, court documents say. During the robbery, James stabbed the man; the knife penetrated 71/2 inches into the victim’s chest, according to court records.

Spencer served eight months in prison starting in 2001 for firing a shot at his then brother-in-law, who was not hit, court records say.

Meckle served three months in jail for assaulting a police officer in July.