Police honor Spokane man with Chief’s Citizen Award

The Spokane Police Department honored a man hailed by many in the community as a hero for helping capture an accused killer. Joshua Gahl received the Chief’s Citizen Award Monday. Gahl chased down 17-year-old Avondre C. Graham after Graham allegedly beat a woman with a mallet in a random attack along the Centennial Trail near Mission Park on Sept. 13. Gahl, who works near the location of the attack, heard the woman’s screams for help and sprung into action, chasing Graham into the Spokane River. He helped police corner Graham on the other side of the river, where he was taken into custody. After that attack, Graham was also charged with the May 3 stabbing death of Sharlotte McGill and with attacking a female Gonzaga University student jogging on the Centennial Trail Aug. 29. Gahl told The Spokesman-Review in September “I was just doing what needed to be done.” Graham faces second-degree murder, first-degree attempted assault, first-degree robbery and third-degree assault.