In brief: Police: Suspect admits killing man

A man suspected of shooting two people on the South Hill later admitted to detectives that he killed one man but denied shooting the other, police said Wednesday.

Norman L. Roberts was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree assault for shooting and killing 41-year-old Kenneth G. Conklin and shooting 23-year-old Thomas L. Darco.

Police gave Roberts’ age as 74, but court records say he is 72.

Details of what happened in the apartment at 2811 E. 30th Ave., below the Studio K Lounge, remain sketchy.

“We don’t have a motive at this time. We don’t know what sparked this guy to pick up a gun and shoot to kill,” said Spokane Police Cpl. Tom Lee. “Some of these answers take a while.”

The shooting happened at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday. Police are describing Roberts’ relationship with his victims as one of “acquaintances only.”

Six people, including Roberts, were in the apartment at the time of the shootings, and police have interviewed the three who were not wounded.

Lee said Darco remains in “very critical” condition at Deaconess Medical Center. His injuries are life-threatening. Officers found him wounded and lying on the driveway outside the building.

Driver arrested in death of teen

Spokane police arrested the driver of a minivan Wednesday who allegedly struck and killed a teenager riding a small motorcycle Tuesday in north Spokane.

Samuel B. Kaeding Jr. fled the scene of the 10 p.m. crash at Madison Street and Maxwell Avenue, police said, but later called police to say he was involved.

Kaeding was charged with felony hit-and-run and vehicular homicide. Police believe he may have been high on marijuana.

He is accused of hitting Brandon R. Hansen, 18, of Spokane, who was riding a motorized scooter.

Hansen suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead upon arrival at an area hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, police said.

Coeur d’Alene

Leading opponents of Aryans to speak

Two leaders in the fight to expel the Aryan Nations from North Idaho will speak tonight at the Human Rights Education Institute, where an exhibit of Aryan Nations’ items is on display through March 31.

NIC political science instructor Tony Stewart and local attorney Norm Gissel, members of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, are to speak from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the institute, on the northeast corner of Coeur d’Alene City Park, across from Memorial Field.

Also on display will be photos of the Aryan Nations’ headquarters in Hayden being destroyed along with items seized there. The exhibit is titled, “Coming Face to Face with Hate: A Search for a World Beyond Hate.” It runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday until the end of the month. There is no admission charge. For more information call (208) 292-2359.

– From staff reports