Teens Face Attempted Murder In Stabbing-Holdups

Wed., Sept. 10, 1997

By Robin Rivers robinr@spokesman.com

The two 18-year-olds accused of stabbing a clerk during a pair of downtown Spokane holdups have been charged with second-degree attempted murder and two counts of first-degree robbery.

Aaron R. Simpson and David L. Johnston made their first court appearance Tuesday afternoon. Each had bail set at $500,000.

Johnston is accused of being an accomplice in the attempted murder.

Police said the pair entered the Conoco at Third and Maple about 4 a.m. Monday, jumped the counter and grabbed the cashier. One took the money while the other stabbed the clerk.

The victim, Mark Bessermin, was upgraded to satisfactory condition Tuesday at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Simpson and Johnston are also accused of robbing the Texaco station at the same intersection about two hours later. Police said they knocked the clerk down and kicked him in the head.

A short time later, following a foot chase, police arrested the teenagers in the Deaconess Medical Center parking garage.

Police are still investigating the defendants for possibly being involved in an injury hit-and-run accident between the robberies. A driver intentionally ran down a bicyclist near the convenience stores, police said.

The cyclist was treated for minor injuries and released.

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