Records: Witness says man shot dead in downtown Spokane last week put shooter in headlock

A man shot dead during a fight in downtown Spokane last week had the shooter in a headlock before the fatal shots were fired, according to court records.

Thomas Price, 30, told officers he shot Jason M. Pederson, 37, in an alley between First and Second avenues around 9 p.m. on May 30. A witness told police he heard a commotion coming from the alley and saw Pederson pinning Price to a wall in a headlock and hitting him repeatedly on the head with his fist.

The witness said he heard the “pop” of a firearm and Pederson pulled away from Price, according to the affidavit, and Price reportedly shot Pederson several more times. Pederson died of two gunshot wounds, one to the neck and one to the abdomen, according to the Spokane County Medical Examiners’ Office.

Price stayed at the scene , according to police. There was blood on his hands from performing CPR on Pederson, according to court records. After telling police he shot Pederson, Price decided to speak with an attorney before answering more questions, police said. An officer did notice a bump on Price’s head where he appeared to have been hit.

Police are searching for DNA evidence. No arrests have been made.