Teen killed in downtown shooting; police arrest suspect

Spokane police late Wednesday arrested a man suspected of shooting a teenager who later died from his injuries.

Officers were called to the shooting about 5:30 p.m. near 100 N. Washington Street. Citizens were administering the victim CPR when officers arrived. Others had chased the suspect from the scene, police said in a news release.

Police arrested Joel C. Taitch, 27, inside 200 W. Spokane Falls Boulevard after the SWAT team evacuated people from nearby rooms. He surrendered peacefully and was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder.

A witness to the shooting, Tony Serian, said the victim, was shot twice by what he described as a “tweaker.”

Serian said the suspect flashed a silver revolver at the victim a few blocks south of the crime scene. The victim, who Serian identified as “Eddy,” ran to Serian for help, he said. Serian confronted the suspect, who ran away. As Serian and the victim gave chase, the suspect turned to shoot the victim twice, Serian said.

A passerby stopped her car and applied pressure to the victim’s neck wound, witnesses said. Serian said he continued chasing the suspect northeast until he lost sight of him.