Man arrested in shooting death

Kevin T. Culp was arrested Thursday in connection with the April 14 shooting death of 19-year-old Cedric Sykes.

Sykes and three other men were leaving a rural Spokane Valley cemetery where they had been taking photographs for a rap album cover when the shooting occurred.

Culp, 20, was sitting in the back seat of the Ford Explorer and Sykes was driving, as it was his mother’s car, according to court documents. Culp allegedly picked up a pistol that had been used as a prop in the photographs. When he pulled the trigger, the gun fired.

The bullet struck Sykes in the neck, just above his shoulders, court documents say. Sykes was hospitalized and died of his injuries on May 5.

In a jailhouse interview Thursday, Culp said he regrets shooting Sykes, whom he describes as a friend of a friend. The two had known each other since grade school, Culp said.

“Seeing the fact it was an accident, I don’t think anybody should go to jail for it,” Culp said.

Culp has no prior criminal record. He said he plans to fight the first-degree manslaughter charge against him.

Culp said he’ll have his bond set at a first appearance today.

Culp wasn’t part of the photo session at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on East Trent Avenue, but just came along to watch, he said.

Sykes took pictures of two 17-year-old aspiring rappers. One is identified in court records as Welden or Weldon M. Holloway. The other is identified as Dante L. Williams

Everyone was getting along well. There was no fighting or arguing as everyone got into the Explorer, Culp said.

Holloway brought two handguns as props. Holloway set one down on the back seat between him and Culp, court documents allege.

Culp said he didn’t know the gun was loaded when he pulled the trigger. After the shooting, he looked around to see if it had hit anything. When he realized Sykes had been hit, he told the others they needed to go to the hospital.

“I was scared,” Culp said.

On the way to the hospital, the group allegedly stopped to drop off Williams, who took the guns with him and returned them to Jacob Snizik, according to court records.

Culp said he was told Sykes was going to be all right.

Culp said he has no idea what will happen to him.

“I’ve never been arrested before today,” he said.