Man shot and killed in Nevada Heights was a ‘superhero,’ nephew says

A man was shot and killed in Spokane’s Nevada Heights neighborhood Friday afternoon.

Spokane police responded to a call of a shooting near East Nebraska Avenue and North Morton Street around 3:45 p.m., Spokane Police Department spokesperson Terry Preuninger said.

When officers arrived, they found a shooting victim whom they confirmed died.

Police have detained several people but aren’t ready to label anyone a suspect yet, Preuninger said.

Shasta Marin Montoya and her son, Layden Martin, heard from a friend at the scene that Shasta’s brother, Lonnie Montoya, had been shot, Shasta said.

The two found the location of the shooting from a Facebook post and went to the scene right away.

Shasta said police at the scene told her Lonnie died painlessly.

Around 6 p.m., she and her son were waiting at the scene.

“We’re a close-knit family,” Shasta said. “I’m not leaving until my brother’s body is no longer laying on the ground.”

Martin said his uncle was a “superhero.” Lonnie helped board up windows downtown during protests in May, refurnished Martin’s first apartment and did yard work at his mom’s house, Martin said.