Region in brief: Officials say oxygen, cigarette led to fire

A lit cigarette and free-flowing oxygen helped start and spread a fire that killed a 70-year-old Spokane woman Tuesday at a downtown apartment building, Spokane fire officials said.

Ethel Maxfield was found unconscious in her bedroom at the Cathedral Plaza after the burning cigarette started the blaze in her bedroom.

The fire spread quickly after coming in contact with oxygen-supply tubing routed under a bed in the apartment, fire officials said.

The fire burned clothing, bedding and carpet, emitting toxic gases and sooty black smoke deposits.

Maxfield died of smoke inhalation, the Spokane County medical examiner said.

Sara Leaming

Deputies fired 8 times at armed 65-year-old

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies fired eight shots at a Spokane Valley man who answered the door armed with a gun.

Deputies were called to an apartment at 8910 E. Broadway Ave. on Saturday for a reported domestic dispute.

When authorities arrived, Donald J. Lafavor answered the door armed with a black revolver, and the two deputies fired on him.

Investigators found eight spent shell casings in the flower beds outside the apartment, according to a search warrant filed Tuesday.

Lafavor, 65, remained in serious condition Wednesday at a Spokane hospital.

A woman identified as Kerey M. Edison, 37, was in the bathroom at the time of the shooting.

Edison told police that Lafavor was “agitated and angry” and told her he would point the gun “at whoever was at the door,” records say.

Sara Leaming

Duncan’s next trial to start in September

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A jury trial for Joseph Edward Duncan III will not start until at least September in his death-penalty case on murder charges.

Duncan is charged with the 1997 slaying of a 10-year-old Beaumont, Calif., boy, Anthony Martinez, whose body was found sexually assaulted, tortured and bound in a ravine near Indio.

Duncan was extradited in January to face the charges after he was convicted of murdering Brenda Groene, Slade Groene and Mark McKenzie at their North Idaho home, and of the murder and torture of Dylan Groene at a remote Montana campground in 2005.

A judge set the trial date tentatively for Sept. 1 or within 60 days after.

Duncan waived his right to a preliminary hearing for the Riverside County district attorney’s office to present evidence in Martinez’s death.

Judge David B. Downing entered not guilty pleas on Duncan’s behalf on the formal charges Wednesday.

Duncan said he did not deny any of the charges, while acting as his own attorney.

California law prohibits defendants from entering guilty pleas to death penalty charges without an attorney present and that attorney’s consent.

(Riverside, Calif.) Press-Enterprise

Cold nights prompt center’s opening

The Salvation Army shelter opened Wednesday evening as a warming center as the temperatures were expected to drop below 15 degrees.

The Salvation Army Family Emergency Center, 204 E. Indiana Ave., which offers shelter to homeless families and couples, is part of the network of centers throughout the city authorized to open to anyone needing shelter in dangerously cold weather under the Homeless Warming Center Program.

Staff reports