Second suspect charged with attempted murder in East Central shooting

A second suspect has been arrested and charged with premeditated attempted murder for the Sept. 25 assault and shooting of Hunter Dozier in East Central.

Ronald L. “Junior” Ricci, 29, was being held in the Spokane County Jail on $100,000 bond, reduced from $250,000 Thursday afternoon.

Dustin Leonard was arrested the day the shooting occurred and was later charged with the same crime as Ricci. Police were searching for Ricci, who they suspect was also involved, until Tuesday, when he was apprehended.

Ricci was part of a group of people who returned to Leonard’s home at 3226 E. Fifth Ave. in the early morning hours of Sept. 25 after a night out, according to court documents.

A roommate at the Fifth Avenue house told police that the victim, Leonard and Ricci were all “really good friends.”

The men were upstairs in the home when a roommate heard yelling, pounding and fighting sounds. Then Dozier limped down the stairs shortly followed by Ricci and Leonard, court documents state.

The roommate told police they heard a “pop” sound and then a male voice shout “just shot him.”

Dozier was inside his car when the shot was fired into the driver’s seat but was not directly hit, according to police. Dozier had a head wound from blunt trauma and injuries from broken glass and metal fragments hitting him at a high speed after the shot was fired, according to court documents.

Dozier drove from the scene, hitting Leonard’s car in the process to stop his assailants from chasing him, court documents show.

Ricci and Leonard then came back inside the house and threatened there would be “serious repercussions” if anyone spoke to police, according to the roommate’s statement.

The roommate identified Ricci, whom they previously only knew as “Junior,” to police.

While in police custody, Leonard admitted to shooting Dozier inside the house but denied shooting at him outside the home, according to court documents.

Leonard claimed someone else fired that shot but would not identify the person, court documents state.

Court documents show detectives have separated the events into two assaults on Dozier, one upstairs inside the home and a second involving the gun in front of the house.

Detectives also believe that Leonard and Ricci were present for both assaults, court documents show.

A pistol was discovered in a vehicle impounded from the scene and identified by police as a stolen weapon.

Ricci has a long criminal history including assault, burglary and theft charges, many of which he committed as a juvenile.

Ricci’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Editors Note: This story has been changed to correct Dustin Leonard’s address which is 3226 E. Fifth Ave.