Detectives gathering evidence against suspect in Airway Heights fatal hit and run

Detectives have identified a suspect in a fatal hit and run that killed 39-year-old Jackson Lawless last week a couple of hundred feet from Northern Quest Resort and Casino.

The name of the suspect has not been released because detectives are still gathering evidence and haven’t charged the man, said Deputy Mark Gregory, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect was driving a silver 2010 Dodge Ram truck at about 9 p.m. near the intersection of North Hayford Road and East Sprague Avenue in Airway Heights. It was dark and raining at the time, and the area was poorly lit, according to court documents.

Lawless was crossing Hayford Road at a spot with no crosswalks when he was hit, causing his shoe and hat to fly off, according to court documents.

Surveillance footage shows that the suspect briefly stopped at a Chevron station close to the scene of the crash, but then continued driving.

After Lawless was hit, other cars slowed down to stop and help him, but another car ran over him, according to court documents. The driver of the second car stopped at the scene, and detectives determined that driver did not hit Lawless while he was standing.

A detective later was able to identify the suspect’s truck on Northern Quest Resort and Casino surveillance footage, according to court records.

After identifying the truck’s owner as the suspect’s estranged wife, detectives contacted her. She told them that the suspect was in possession of the truck and was living at his stepbrother’s apartment.

Detectives arrived at the apartment on May 18, located the truck with damage consistent with the crash and impounded it. No one answered the door when detectives knocked, according to court records.

Lawless was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and grew up mostly in Spokane, according to his obituary. He is survived by his mother, three brothers and five sisters.

A memorial for Lawless will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at West Central Episcopal Mission church, 1832 W. Dean Ave., in Spokane.

This story was corrected to accurately state that Lawless was hit by the truck at about 9 p.m.