Reward offered for assistance in identifying man’s killer

A $2,000 reward is being offered for information that identifies who is responsible for the death of a man found on a downtown sidewalk last week.

Medics were called at 7:55 a.m. Sept. 15 near Second Avenue and Madison Street, where Richard G. Morgan, 39, was laying after suffering head injuries. When crews arrived, Morgan could talk but refused to say what happened, according to an affidavit filed Thursday in district court.

However, after he was transported to Deaconess Medical Center, he told a nurse that he had been assaulted, court records say. He soon lost consciousness, and he died Tuesday.

Police are asking for the public’s help in solving the case.

“There had to have been more people who were down there who have not come forward,” said Lt. Scott Stephens, commander of the Spokane police major crimes unit.

A witness told investigators that she saw a person she believed was Morgan talking with two men about 7:30 a.m. near where Morgan was found, according to court records. Stephens said it’s unclear how many people may have attacked Morgan.

Police have identified a “person of interest” who has since been jailed and extradited to the west side of the state on an unrelated charge, Stephens said. But that man is not considered a suspect.

The person of interest, who has refused to talk to police about the case, frequented the block where Morgan was assaulted, and several of his bags were found nearby, court documents say. Detectives were given court permission to search the bags, which contained clothing, medication, papers and other items.

Police ask anyone with information to call Secret Witness at (509) 327-5111. Callers do not have to give their identity to be eligible for the reward.