March 4, 2009 in City

Three men face murder charges in fatal stabbing

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One man is dead and three men are facing second-degree murder charges following a fight that started after one of the homicide suspects punched his girlfriend, police say.

The 19-year-old victim, who has not been identified, was stabbed in the chest and died almost immediately after arriving at the hospital, said Spokane police Sgt. Joe Peterson.

The suspects, brothers Joseph and Christopher Harper and Rob Waters, turned themselves in at the Spokane Police Department about 4:30 this morning, Peterson said. The three were booked into the jail earlier this afternoon.

The fight started around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when a man, who has not been identified, went to Joseph Harper’s apartment, 1008 W. Spofford Ave., to confront him about abusing his girlfriend.

Christopher Harper and Waters, who were in an upstairs apartment, heard the commotion and joined the altercation, Peterson said. The unidentified man fled to his home about a block away on Augusta, and the three others soon followed, police say.

The Harper brothers and Waters told the man to come out to finish the fight. When the altercation continued, the victim got involved and was stabbed, Peterson said.

The Harper brothers and Waters are facing murder charges, authorities said.

Detectives searched the home on Spofford this morning where they found some bloody clothes and a small amount of pot, said Spokane police Lt. Dave McGovern.

The knife used in the stabbing was found under the Maple Street Bridge, McGovern said. The suspects told police they tried to throw the weapon in the Spokane River, but when they looked back they’d passed the water. It was found on a grassy knoll below.

The Harpers each have a criminal history. Joseph Harper has had convictions for robbery, assault and drug possession. Christopher Harper’s history includes gun possession, domestic violence and harassment, according to court records.

One comment on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  nickthomas on March 14 at 5:36 p.m.

  Upon hearing of chris harper, his brother joe, and rob waters in jail on murder charge:
  I live in Seattle and was wondering just a couple days ago about my old pal chris harper, and specifically about how horrible and sad it is when real unequivicable talent goes to waste. I thought one of the truest cases of this from my personal experience was Chris. He was an amazing, gifted artist since he could hold a pencil. He was known and respeced back then for his near photorealistic action scene drawings  xmen and other comic book characters. I dont mean OK, average, artwork, I’m talking 5star, professional, blue ribbon talent. No one had any doubt that Chris could achieve great things with his profound gift. He was even taking commissions from fellow students! I had no idea where he was, or what had become of him, only that if i had to name one person that i knew personally who had lost their way and wasted a natural gift, it would be none other than him. 3 hours ago. Nothing would have led me to guess what a dark place he really wasin  when i was pondering that. My Mom called me today, just 3 hours ago, to tell me about this sad news. I grew up with all three suspects involved in this horrific murder, both chris and joe harper, and rob waters. We went to Roosevelt Elementary, Sacajawea jh, and Lewis and clark HS together, atleast until dropped out as their lives unraveled due to drugs and no adults who would help them. The last time I saw my wonderful, talented boyhood friend Chris was 11 or 12 years ago while i was a student at LC. He was walking “by” the campus to downtown, obviously high on some drug, and clearly not just herb, he was strung out majorly, eyes bloodshot, face gaunt. I said Hi Chris! how are you? He just floated past me, glancing at me for only a brief second and mumbling a hollow, lost “hey”. I knew it was not a good moment to try to catch up. I had not seen or heard anything about him since that day. And now this. I am sad to say i am not shocked. People, esp. young men with nothing to do, no honest work, or not enough, no plans, and no consistent mentors, something lacking society-wide, usually are so bored, directionless, and frustrated that they drift into drugs, petty crime, and often end up exploding oneday, overreacting to some random “offense”, and then end up commiting an act of violence that lands them in prison for the rest of their best years. I hope they will be brought to due justice, but I also hope (against hope) that they will humble themselves, and through their imprisonment become mature, real men. I hope they can get and receive the help they so clearly need. I know that prison is a mixed bag, but I know these young men, they were kind, sensitive, unusually smart and talented boys once upon a time. My own Mom even helped tutor Rob when we were in grade school, and me and Rob were even on the school newspaper staff together, which he drew up hilarious, original comic strips for. It is nearly soul crushing to read what they have let themselves become. Murderers. First killing off their own bright spirits, and then stabbing an innocent 19 year old boy. I am sick of this “man” BS. Legally, yes he was a “adult”, but he was just a kid! Where were you when you were 19?
  I am brought to angry, sad, bitter, mournful tears over this. I am so sad for the victim, his family, and for the harpers  and robs families too, whom i knew and respected, despite their own many problems and constant struggles.