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

Stabbing late Thursday leaves one man dead, another in custody

One man is dead and another is in jail following a stabbing late Thursday at an apartment complex near Seventh Avenue and Helena Street. Police arrested Arturo Rodriguez-Ramos, 26, on suspicion of first-degree manslaughter for allegedly stabbing Shawn Stevens, 26, during an argument. Stevens was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead, police said. According to court documents, Stevens was part of a group of friends hanging out on the apartment landing. A woman who lived in the building was complaining to the group that her boyfriend “Arturo” was abusive and refused to leave her apartment. Several people, including Stevens, volunteered to go inside her apartment and make sure he left. Witnesses told police Stevens spoke with the boyfriend, then pushed him. The boyfriend left the apartment, and Stevens and several witnesses followed to make sure he left. A witness told police the boyfriend then turned as if he was going back towards the apartments. Stevens ran up behind him and pushed him, then began punching him in the face before backing away. Stevens then returned to the group and said he’d been stabbed in the chest, while the boyfriend fled the scene. Officers responded to the area just before 11 p.m. and administered CPR before medics arrived to take Stevens to the hospital. Police arrested Rodriguez-Ramos about 45 minutes later after finding him at a home in the 2400 block of East 8th Avenue. His bond was set at $150,000 in a Friday afternoon court appearance.