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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Man on life support after Hillyard shooting

Caleb Tipton, 28, was in critical condition Friday, June 15, 2018 after he was shot in the head near Rowan Avenue and Cook Street in northeast Spokane. (KHQ)

A man was hospitalized early Friday with life-threatening injuries following an overnight shooting in Hillyard.

The shooting occurred just after midnight in the 2500 block of East Rowan Avenue. Caleb Tipton, 28, reportedly went to a residence to retrieve a friend’s stolen items.

A witness and friend of Tipton’s told officers he saw Tipton and Brittany Korzonthowski, 32, who was arrested, arguing on the front steps of the residence.

The witness told officers that Korzonthowski pushed Tipton off the steps and he saw Tipton’s arm extended in a motion that appeared as if he was hitting her. Korzonthowski went inside the home as Tipton walked away. The witness then heard the screen door open and heard a gunshot, court documents said.

The witness turned and saw Tipton down on the sidewalk, and Korzonthowski had what appeared to be a firearm pointed at Tipton. The witness called 911 and ordered Korzonthowski to throw the gun a safe distance away. He stayed with Tipton until police arrived, according to court documents.

Korzonthowski told police Tipton had demanded to speak with her boyfriend about the stolen items and then hit her in the head four times with a rock on a string. She said she retrieved a firearm – which she thought was unloaded – and raised it in the air to scare Tipton away.

Spokane police said in a news release that Korzonthowski was arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Tipton was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where he was on life support Friday. Medical staff determined there is no brain activity, the court documents said.

Tipton, who has four children, struggled in the past with drug addiction, but had been working on getting clean over the past two years, said his mother, Roberta Svenonius.

“I am just saddened that people feel like violence is the be-all, end-all to every situation,” Svenonius said. “Although it’s ending horribly for my son, he’s an organ donor, so if it comes to the fact that he’s brain-dead, he can provide life to another person.”