January 18, 2012 in News, City

Spokane man killed by own knife identified

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A man who police say was accidentally stabbed to death by his own knife Saturday has been identified as Rene Chico Salas, 52, of Spokane.

An autopsy concluded Salas died of a stab wound to his chest, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police say Salas had a knife when he was banging on a locked door at the Danmor Apartments, 410 W. Third Ave. after an altercation with a resident. Police say the door eventually opened, and the impact apparently knocked the knife’s blade into Salas’s shoulder, which cut an artery, police said.

Salas walked a short distance before collapsing on the sidewalk.

Police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said a thorough investigation showed Salas’ death was a “tragic” accident.

“We realize it is very hard to believe,” she said.

Five comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  Jrob on January 18 at 5:18 p.m.

  Nothing tragic about that if you’re beating on someone’s door with a knife and bad intentions.

• 

  polistra on January 18 at 5:48 p.m.

  Not tragic at all. Natural justice, a rare and excellent thing.

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  EthicsinLE on January 18 at 6:13 p.m.

  I’m a little confused at the discrepancy between the police version and the finding of the medical examiner. SPD said the knife struck the shoulder and cut an artery, but the medical examiner said he died of a knife wound to the chest. Which one is it?

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  reservedparking on January 18 at 6:22 p.m.

  The upper anterior chest could also be considered the shoulder, I suppose. Knife aimed upwards from the chest could get the subclavian artery. I’m guessing the ME’s description is probably more anatomically correct than the PD’s.

  Might just be semantics.

• 

  MrBloggy on January 18 at 11:40 p.m.

  MrB still wonders if that door was angry, perhaps, even unhinged.