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

Teen killed when men broke into tattoo shop, witness tells police

The teenager killed early Tuesday at a North Monroe tattoo shop was shot during a robbery attempt, witnesses told police.

Ceasar Medina, 17, suffered gunshot wounds to his neck and chest, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office. He died before he could be taken to the hospital. Police are still looking for the killer, described by police as a 5-foot-9 black man with curly hair and a thin build.

Witnesses told police two men forced their way into Northwest Accessories, at 3400 N. Monroe St. One of the employees hurled an empty wine bottle at the men, who opened fire, striking Medina. They fled, and police stopped two people who had carried Medina to a sedan and were headed to the hospital. The teen died on scene after lifesaving efforts by police were unsuccessful.

Police had received a call of suspicious circumstances at the business a few hours before the shooting, according to court records. At 9:30 p.m., a neighbor reported hearing a loud banging noise inside the business, followed by several people exiting and “throwing items” at an SUV as it drove away. One of the men inside the business told investigators he was having a dispute with a girlfriend and she’d damaged his car earlier in the evening, according to court records.

Investigators say the manager of the property, Ruben Flores, is a suspected gang member with ties to a group out of Moses Lake. Flores was present during the shooting and opened the back door of the business for a friend when the two armed men forced their way in, he told police.

Medina is the fifth homicide victim in Spokane this year, according to Spokesman-Review records.

A woman who identified herself as Medina’s aunt said via a Facebook message that the teen was watching the store overnight when an attempted robbery took place. Friends said he had gone to high school in Moses Lake and went by the nickname “Fat Boy.”

Authorities searched the business Tuesday morning, finding empty beer bottles and cans, unfinished pizza and a single bullet lodged in a wall, according to court records. An employee reported hearing three shots. No weapons were found inside the business, which also sells drug paraphernalia.

Police said Tuesday that the two people who were in the car with Medina were questioned and released.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.