Woman killed near SFCC

Spokane police want help identifying a woman found shot to death early Monday at apartments near Spokane Falls Community College.

Officers responded about 4:30 a.m. to reports of a gunshot and a woman screaming. They arrived at 4150 W. Fort George Wright Drive and found a young woman dead on the apartment complex’s lawn, Lt. Mark Griffiths said.

Officers let occupants of the College Terrace Apartments leave after they were questioned. Detectives would not discuss possible suspects, but Griffiths confirmed that police had no one in custody.

“We are very early on in this investigation, but we have the resources here to find out what happened,” he said.

Officers draped yellow blankets over police tape – connected between an apartment building and a tree – to shield the dead woman from the view of passers-by. Several numbered yellow evidence cones were placed around the body.

Later Monday, the department issued photographs of the victim’s distinctive tattoos and sought community help in trying to identify her. The Spokane County medical examiner was unable to identify the woman, police spokeswoman Monique Cotton said. Police said the woman is white and between the ages of 18 and 25. She stood 5-foot-7, weighed 154 pounds, and had brown hair and light brown eyes.

The tattoos are located on her hip and her arm.

College officials had not determined Monday if the woman attended Spokane Falls Community College, said Anne Tucker, Community Colleges of Spokane spokeswoman. Nevertheless, SFCC made counseling services available for those at the school who needed to talk.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.