Tragedy recalled a year later
The night was set aside to pay tribute to the late Thomas N. Morris and Donnie Corey, one year after they were shot and killed at a late-night party in Mead.
However, an odd coincidence was cast on the candlelight vigil, held outside the house where the two young men lived their last hours. Brandon W. Martin, the man accused of killing Morris, 24, and Corey, 18, is now being linked to the Saturday night homicide of Spokane County Jail cellmate Christopher L. Rentz.
Word got around to the roughly 75 friends and family members who gathered for a short service at the corner house on Sheridan and Florence, and the comments followed.
“I wish we wouldn’t have found out right in the middle of this,” said Sherry Davis, who knew Morris and Corey most of their lives. “Tonight should be about the boys and not about him again.”
Martin, 19, whose trial is scheduled to begin next month, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the October 2003 shooting of Morris and Corey. According to court documents, Martin was at the house on 11600 N. Sheridan when he got into an argument with another male. After things settled down, Martin left and returned with a gun and shot the two men, the documents said.
Davis, whose sons were longtime friends of Morris and Corey, retold the story she heard one year ago. Davis said Morris and Corey were not initially at the party, but arrived at the house after they were called by friends.
“They were not even here,” Davis said through tears.
Friends gathered in clusters, tipped back a few and relived memories of the two fun-loving partiers. While the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Simple Kind of Man” played on a car CD player, someone commented, “That was Donnie. A simple kind of man.”
Since their deaths, two religious crosses, photos, flowers and alcohol containers have remained in the front yard.
“I don’t understand,” a female friend, squatting and studying at a photograph of Corey.
“There’s nothing to understand,” another female friend said, while hugging her grieving friend.
The prayer vigil started with Davis eulogizing Morris and Corey.
“They had a healthy appetite for life,” she said. “When they were down, they did not stay there long. Their memories, smiles and the sounds of their voices are an imprint in our lives.
“We did not say goodbye,” Davis continued. “We were not there to comfort them. I feel they are present here tonight.”
A shiny black motorcycle, remodeled by Morris’ dad, Tom Morris, rested next to the shrine.
“There’s a lot of support here,” Morris said.
When asked about his reaction to Saturday’s reports on Martin, Morris said, “We do believe it’s going to affect the trial. Maybe it will help keep him off the streets forever.”