Trial Starts Against Travis Comeslast

A Spokane County jury will decide if the shooting of a drug dealer last summer was premeditated murder or self-defense.

In opening statements Tuesday, prosecutors portrayed Travis Comeslast as a quick-triggered opportunist who shot methamphetamine dealer Chris Gongyin in the head to steal drugs, cash and a set of tires.

Comeslast - older brother of convicted double-killer Kenneth “Junior” Comeslast - is accused of felony first-degree murder and robbery.

The shooting happened early in the morning on June 27 at Gongyin’s North Regal home.

Defense attorney Doug Boe told the Superior Court jury that Comeslast, 21, got caught in the middle of an argument between Gongyin and another man.

When Gongyin ran to his bedroom to grab a 9mm pistol, Comeslast tried to stop the larger man, Boe said.

He failed, and “out of fear for his life” Comeslast fired a single bullet into the back of Gongyin’s head, Boe said.

The shooting occurred in the bedroom, close to Gongyin’s wife and 13-month-old daughter.

Boe said Comeslast had just “a split second to act” because Gongyin was holding a loaded, cocked pistol as he fell to the floor.

Boe said Gongyin, 20, had a reputation as a drug dealer and gun trader. “He was committed to gang violence,” the attorney said, adding that Gongyin frightened people by shooting at their feet.

Comeslast, who has a long history of run-ins with police, drove to Gongyin’s home with a friend, Irvin Fentroy III, 27.

Fentroy wanted to sell Gongyin a gun, but they began quarreling inside the living room. Comeslast was seated on a couch, according to police reports.

When the argument turned ugly, Gongyin told the visitors “I’m going to get my strap” - gang slang for gun, Boe told the jury.

After the shooting, Comeslast and Fentroy left before police arrived. Fentroy was arrested the following afternoon. Comeslast was arrested at his girlfriend’s Spokane home three days later.

During testimony Tuesday, Barbara Gongyin, 18, said Comeslast waved a .38-caliber revolver at her after shooting her husband.

Demanding she hand over money and drugs that were in the house, Comeslast grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the kitchen, she said. She was carrying her daughter.

“I thought he was going to kill us next,” she said.

The moment her husband came through the bedroom door, she said she saw Comeslast behind him, then heard a gunshot. She ducked to the side to protect her daughter.

“Did you see if your husband had a gun in his hands?” Boe asked during cross-examination.

“No,” the witness said quietly. “I never saw his hands.”

, DataTimes