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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man shot to death in Spokane parking lot

Julian D. Morrison, 26, was found dead outside popular Spokane nightclub The Hop! late Sunday night.
A fight turned deadly late Sunday night, when a man was shot to death outside of a North Spokane nightclub. Julian D. Morrison’s body was found in the crowded parking lot of The Hop!, a nightclub at 706 N. Monroe Street. The 26-year-old suffered multiple gunshot wounds as the result of a homicide, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner. The shooting was reported at 11:58 p.m. Sunday and police were on scene two minutes later, according to a news release. Police were unable to find the suspect in the parking lot, where about 30 to 50 people were still watching the bloody scene. Spokane police are still looking for the killer and investigators continued to process the scene Monday morning. More than a dozen orange evidence cones surrounded bullet casings in the gravel lot. Witnesses reported seeing the two fighting or arguing in the parking lot, then the suspect pulled a gun, Lt. Mark Griffiths said, adding that more than ten shots were fired. Morrison appears to have an extensive criminal record, including a 2011 assault case when he brought a rifle to a fight at the Wishing Well trailer park on 4911 N. Florida St. He served 33 months in jail. A friend, however, said Morrison was turning his life around for the better. “He may have a record but he was a good guy,” Breanna Heltsley said. Although it’s unclear whether Morrison or the killer were at The Hop!, the nightclub was hosting a late-night party for hip-hop artist Messy Marv, who had been scheduled to perform Sunday night in Spokane Lincoln Center as part of his “Stop the Violence” tour. The rap artist, however, had canceled his show, organizers said, though The Hop! did not indicate the after-party was also canceled. The Spokesman-Review attempted to reach the owners of The Hop!, but they weren’t immediately available for comment. The Hop!’s Facebook page featured the status “The worst night in our history,” early Monday morning. There is no description for the suspect. Anyone who witnessed the altercation or who has information about the suspect is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.


An officer investigates the scene where an adult male was shot dead early Monday at The Hop on North Monroe Street in Spokane. (SR Photo: Tyler Tjomsland)


Bystanders watch as officers investigate the scene where an adult male was shot dead early Monday at The Hop on North Monroe Street. (SR Photo: Tyler Tjomsland)

More information will be posted on this story when it becomes available.