Suspect in September stabbing arrested on murder charge

Spokane police on Wednesday arrested a suspect in a fatal stabbing that took place in September.

Michael L. Gehrke, 33, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing of Christopher Piñeyro, who’s also called Christopher Piñeyro Balassa, 35, on Sept. 4 in the 1500 block of North Adams Street. Piñeyro died from his injuries on Sept. 8.

According to court documents, Gehrke was in a car with his girlfriend and a friend of hers when the group arrived at his girlfriend’s home. He got out of the car and saw Piñeyro on a bike. A witness told police he saw Gehrke approach Piñeyro and the two exchange words before Gehrke pushed Piñeyro off his bike, court documents say.

Multiple witnesses said Piñeyro was armed with a hammer and began swinging it at Gehrke, who stabbed Piñeyro with a knife. But several said they didn’t see who started the fight. Gehrke told police he stabbed Piñeyro in self-defense, but a witness told police Gehrke had already pulled out his knife after kicking Piñeyro off the bike, court documents say.

Piñeyro was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center with stab wounds on his neck and arms. He lost a significant amount of blood, which caused brain injuries that eventually led to his death, court documents say.

Gehrke spoke with police after the stabbing. He told a detective he knew Piñeyro had kidnapped and raped a 16-year-old girl and ordered Piñeyro to stay away from him and his friends. Court documents show Piñeyro was charged with rape and kidnapping in 2013 and served nine months in jail after pleading guilty to domestic violence assault.

Gehrke admitted that independent witnesses to the fight would say he was the aggressor, but he denied pulling out a weapon first, court documents say.

Detectives did not arrest Gehrke after interviewing him because Piñeyro was still in the hospital, the scene was still being processed and witnesses were still being interviewed.

Police forwarded the case file to the Spokane County prosecutor, who issued a warrant for Gehrke’s arrest on Nov. 5.

Gehrke has several misdemeanor convictions, but no prior felony charges or convictions in Spokane County.

Gehrke appeared in court Thursday afternoon on the murder charge. His bond was set at $200,000, and public defender Mark Hannibal requested a mental health evaluation.