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

Witnesses: Man killed in hotel parking lot planned pot robbery

Stanley Tensley, 25, arrested on conspiracy charges

Witnesses said the man shot and killed in the parking lot of a north Spokane hotel early Sunday planned to rob another of five pounds of marijuana. Stanley Tensley, 25, was arrested late Tuesday in connection with the alleged robbery that ended in 32-year-old Richard Amodio’s death. A participant of the planned robbery told police Amodio and Tensley arrived at the Howard Johnson hotel at 3033 N. Division St. just after midnight Sunday with the intention to rob a supplier of five pounds of pot. Police initially arrested Joshua R. Smith in connection with the crime. But he later told police he had arranged the sale and heard gunshots, but did not see who fired the shots that killed Amodio, according to court records. Smith was released from custody Monday after police dropped the charges against him. Surveillance video of the parking lot where the shooting took place shows Amodio and Tensley meeting with an as-yet-unidentified man carrying a black blackpack. Amodio punched the man with the backpack and he fell to the ground, according to court documents, at which time Tensley, known by the street name “Brutus,” joins in the beating. The man can be seen standing up, waving what appeared to be a firearm, according to court documents. Amodio and Tensley ran away in the midst of muzzle flashes captured on the camera, according to investigators. Amodio fell to the ground, but Tensley was able to escape, according to court documents. The shooter retrieved his backpack and left the scene. Smith, who was present for the deal, said he saw what appeared to be Tensley and the marijuana supplier leaving the area after he heard three gunshots. Two 9mm shell casings were found at the scene of the shooting, according to court documents. An autopsy showed Amodio died from multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. Tensley was taken into custody without incident by police just after 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release. He faces a charge of conspiracy to commit second-degree robbery. Police are still looking for the shooter. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233.