In brief: Spokane’s first flu case of season confirmed

The flu has returned to the Inland Northwest.

A Spokane woman in her 60s tested positive for influenza A, the first confirmed case of influenza in Spokane this season, according to a news release from the Spokane Regional Health District.

The health district recommends that everyone from age 6 months and older get a flu shot. The vaccine kicks in within about two weeks, according to the release.

Last flu season, 152 people were hospitalized due to flu in Spokane County, and two died from flu-related illness, according to the release.

Flu shots are available at many pharmacies.

Kaitlin Gillespie

Shooting suspect’s case will proceed, judge says

A Spokane judge denied a suspected gang member’s request to throw out the murder and assault charges against him following a deadly shooting at a North Monroe Street music venue in September.

Carlos Fuentes, 25, asked the court to dismiss the first-degree murder and 12 drive-by shooting charges against him stemming from the shooting death of Julian Morrison, 26, at The Hop late on Sept. 8. Investigators say the shooting in the parking lot behind the club was likely the result of an ongoing gang feud.

Judge Ellen Kalama Clark ruled Thursday that police had provided enough evidence to show Fuentes “was involved in some kind of incident or confrontation with the deceased.”

Witness statements indicated Kalen Bedford, 23, also arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, was the only one who fired on Morrison.

Fuentes’ attorney, Robert Cossey, argued the only evidence against his client was hearsay.

Kip Hill

Police: Infant left alone during burglary try

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies attended to a suspected burglar’s infant daughter who had been left alone during a burglary attempt Wednesday, according to a news release.

Dyllin Trottier, 21, was booked into Spokane County Jail just before 7 p.m. Wednesday after deputies found him hiding in a laundry room crawl space at a home in the 4100 block of North McDonald Road, according to the release. A neighbor reported seeing the break-in, and sheriff’s deputies discovered the door jamb of the home was broken.

As Trottier was being handcuffed, he asked deputies to check on his 9-month-old daughter in an apartment across the street, the Sheriff’s Office said. They found the girl crying in a high chair. Trottier told deputies he’d left the child to “chase someone.”

Trottier faces charges of residential burglary and reckless endangerment.

Kip Hill