Man apprehended in murder probe likely to be released

A man described as a suspect in a weekend homicide is likely to be released from Spokane County Jail soon because investigators lack enough evidence to continue holding him, authorities said today. Joshua R. Smith, 30, was taken into custody by Spokane police just before 10 p.m. Sunday and booked into jail in connection with the fatal shooting that left another man dead in the parking of a Howard Johnson Inn on North Division Street. The medical examiner identified the dead man as Richard C. Amodio, 32. The cause of death was gunshot wounds to the torso, a news release said. An expected court appearance today for Smith has been cancelled and police say he’ll probably be released unless additional evidence surfaces. Witnesses to the shooting reportedly are being uncooperative. Detectives believe the shooting was related to a fight over marijuana and that the pair knew each other, an initial news release from the Spokane Police Department said. The victim’s identity is still being withheld by authorities. The shooting was reported around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the hotel parking lot at 3033 N. Division Street.