SPD Investigate Homicide In North Spokane - One Male In Custody

~ Spokane Police Respond to Fatal Shooting on Hawthorne Street

On the evening of June 7th, 2026, Spokane police officers were called to the scene of a fatal shooting near 5400 N Hawthorne St. According to a press release from Officer T. Leming, Public Information Officer for the Spokane Police Department, the call came in just after 5pm from a juvenile who reported that a male had shot their mother.

The caller provided a description of the suspect's vehicle and its license plate number, stating that the male had fled the scene immediately after the shooting. The caller also believed that their mother had been killed.

Upon arrival, officers quickly located two juveniles who were present at the time of the shooting and gathered important information from them. They then found the female victim and observed that she had sustained injuries consistent with a gunshot wound. The officers immediately began life-saving measures until paramedics arrived, but unfortunately, the victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Meanwhile, another officer en route to the scene spotted the suspect's vehicle near E. Wellesley Ave and N. Haven St. A traffic stop was initiated and the male suspect was detained.

The Spokane Police Department's Major Crimes Unit was notified of the incident and took over the investigation. After gathering witness statements and evidence, they established probable cause to arrest Josiah Ballinger (42) for Murder in the Second Degree.

The identity of the victim will be released at a later date by the medical examiner. However, investigators believe this was an isolated incident involving individuals who knew each other and there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the community.

The Spokane Police Department urges anyone with additional information about this incident to contact them at tleming@spokanepolice.org.

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