Second body found in West Central neighborhood

Police are investigating two suspicious deaths, one of a man in an alley and another a woman in a house, reported Friday just four blocks apart in the West Central neighborhood. Capt. Dave Richards of the Spokane Police Department’s investigations unit said there is “nothing to indicate (the cases) are related.” A neighbor taking out the trash found the first body around 9 a.m. in an alley near North Cannon Street and West Bridge Avenue. Spokane police Sgt. Sean Nemec said police suspect foul play and that the man’s body was surrounded by blood from possible gunshot wounds. Police have not identified the victim but are circulating a mugshot of a man, asking the public’s assistance in determining his last known whereabouts. They believe the man lived in the neighborhood and had been walking through the alley. A car was towed away from the area after police determined there may be evidence on it from the crime scene because the driver may have unknowingly bumped the body. Around 2 p.m., police received a call about a possible second body. Richards said police worked with the caller to identify the location of the body, a house converted into apartments at 2305 W. Broadway Ave. Officers entered the house to make sure no one inside needed immediate assistance. Upon finding a woman’s body, officers evacuated the house until they could get a search warrant. The woman’s age, identity and cause of death were not available Friday night. Richards said the caller reporting the discovery identified himself and is “not a suspect in any way at all.” Neighbor Robert Briggs lives across the street from the house where police were investigating Friday evening and said he saw three people leave the house late the night before. Briggs said he doesn’t know the woman who lives there very well – he only moved in a week ago – but said she is in her 20s. He said he wondered if the two bodies were somehow connected. “It’s too coincidental that they’re only a few blocks apart,” he said. Briggs said he had seen numerous disturbances and possible drug deals on the corner of West Broadway Avenue and North Nettleton Street. His house is on that corner. “It’s not dull, that’s for sure,” he said. “Almost every day there’s something new to watch.” Anyone with information on either case is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.