Suspect in double murder arrested

A fugitive suspected of fatally shooting two Spokane men Sept. 26 was arrested today in Kennewick. Merle W. Harvey, 27, was arrested without incident along with his girlfriend, Diane L. Richardson, 34. Both had been sought by police since the shootings of Jack Thomas Lamere, 41, and Jacob J. Potter, 45, almost two weeks ago. The two were spotted by someone in Kennewick walking through a field carrying a bag, which prompted a report of “suspicious persons” to Kennewick police. When officers responded and found Harvey and Richardson, they were placed into custody, according to a news release from the Spokane Police Department. Major crimes detectives have traveled to the Tri-Cities to continue their investigation. Witnesses say the Sept. 26 shooting was the result of a car trade gone bad. Lamere had traded a Cadillac to Harvey for a Blazer, and Harvey wanted the Blazer back. Police reports say that Lamere and Potter were working on the Blazer in the 1300 block of West Boone Avenue when Harvey showed up in a truck driven by Richardson. The men argued for several minutes, and witnesses say Harvey pulled a rifle from the truck and fired several times, then retrieved another rifle and continued firing before fleeing in the truck. Lamere and Potter died of gunshot wounds to the chest.