Murdered man loved his hockey

Ken Brown was someone who favored a good routine. Each Tuesday and Thursday he called the Spokane Chiefs front office to talk about his favorite players. On Sundays he went to Shari’s restaurant on Northwest Boulevard for dinner. And on his way home, he’d drop in at BaskinRobbins for ice cream. When he returned to his apartment - which contained 20 bowling trophies and a “Happy Birthday” poster signed by local Albertson’s employees - he phoned his sister who lives in Hillsboro, Ore. Last weekend, Jan Murray and her husband, Lynn, didn’t hear from Brown, 57, and wondered if something was amiss. His co-workers at Jet Services, where he had worked since 1979, had the same thought when he didn’t show up Monday afternoon. They were crushed to learn that a person they describe as dependable and caring was killed in an alley behind a Texaco gas station on the corner of Northwest Boulevard and Maple Street on Sunday evening. Two juveniles, ages 14 and 15, have been charged with first-degree murder in Brown’s death. Brandon R. Molony, who police said stabbed Brown 12 times, is a runaway from Bellingham with a criminal record that includes bringing a gun to school at age 12. His 15-year-old alleged accomplice, Nicholas Limpert, is from Spokane and has no prior convictions, a prosector said Wednesday. Those who knew Brown are wondering what could have compelled anyone to attack him, let alone take his life. “Ken would have given them what they wanted, if he had understood,” his sister said. She added that her brother, who was mildly mentally disabled, never carried much money. Brown was born in Tacoma and moved with his family to Spokane in 1945. He was a Spokane Chiefs season ticket holder - the owner of team jerseys, mittens and a blue hat. He saved all the stubs from the home games. One Chiefs front office employee said Brown called every Tuesday and Thursday to talk about his favorite players. “He was a huge fan,” said Jon French, who spoke with him several times. “Nobody can remember when he missed a call.” On Saturday night, French said, the team will have a moment of silence for Brown before the game. A spotlight will be shone on the upper level seat he used to cheer from. “He was a real simple guy and wellliked,” French said. Brown got to be well-known around the Northwest Boulevard area where he lived for more than a decade. He either walked or took the bus wherever he was going. “He would always come in and talk about hockey,” said Justin Allen, an employee at Albertson’s, where Brown used to shop. “He would mostly tell you what was on his mind and when he was done, he would tell you again.” Other acquaintances remember that Brown enjoyed bowling. Murray said he played in a league each Saturday night at Colonial City Bowl. He was a regular at the Spokane County Fair and was partial to country music. For his employer, Jet Services, Brown was dependable and not one to show up late or be out of uniform. His death “is something that won’t go away overnight,” said Shari Russell, the company’s director. Brown recently was working as a maintenance person at Fairchild Air Force Base. “There’s so many people who are hurt and outraged by this,” said friend Mary King, who was helping clean out Brown’s apartment Wednesday night. King, along with Brown’s family, said she hopes Brown’s alleged attackers will be prosecuted as adults in Spokane County Superior Court.