close
close
Murder plot suspected in Chief Garry Park shooting, suspect found dead in Montana | Spokane News

SPOKANE, Wash. – Investigators are still piecing together the details of a Nov. 9 shooting that left a 71-year-old man dead in Chief Garry Park, and police now suspect it may have been a contract killing.

According to a search warrant obtained by the Spokesman-Review and shared with NonStop Local, the shooting that left Donald Gunstrom dead may have been motivated by a love triangle between a 25-year-old woman, her ex-boyfriend and Gunstrom.

According to the search warrant, Gunstrom was found near the intersection of Lacey Street and Riverton Avenue with multiple gunshots to the chest, face and head. Police also found evidence that the victim had been hit or dragged by a car. Officers who responded to the scene discovered spent shell casings and bullets from a .380-caliber handgun, as well as a pistol magazine, in the parking lot in the area of ​​East South Riverton Avenue, where Gunstrom lived.

Police said they interviewed a witness, the woman who lived in the same apartment complex as Gunstrom and who told investigators her ex-boyfriend had hired someone to kill Gunstrom. The woman said she had an on-again, off-again relationship with the 50-year-old man, who was reportedly physically and mentally abused. She revealed that the man had previously threatened to kill Gunstrom if she ever returned to him.

According to court documents, the woman described the shooting in detail, explaining that she and Gunstrom had just arrived at his apartment complex when an older white man approached them and opened fire. She said the gunman, dressed in dark clothing, suddenly appeared and shot Gunstrom as he walked toward the building. The woman then ran to a neighbor’s apartment and banged on the door, fearing for her own life, court records show.

Nearby security cameras captured footage of a suspicious car leaving the scene shortly after the shooting, according to court documents. Investigators later traced the car to a rental agreement with a Whitman County man, later identified as the 59-year-old suspect. Two days later, his body was found in Montana, about 32 miles east of Billings, at Pompey’s Pillar National Monument. Police believe he died by suicide. A .380-caliber handgun was found near his body, and the shell casings recovered there appeared to be similar to those found at the crime scene in Spokane.

The car was also in Montana. Police said a blood-like substance was found on the car near the engine compartment.

Police said they have not yet confirmed whether the gun found on the dead suspect was the weapon used in the murder.

The investigation is ongoing and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *