Murder in Spokane, Washington – After the tragic shooting incident on New Year’s Eve in 2022, wherein 42-year-old Carlos Thomas sustained multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle at the 1400 block of E 7th Ave, the Spokane Police Department (SPD) has made significant headway in the investigation. The SPD’s Major Crimes Unit (MCU) conducted an exhaustive inquiry involving the meticulous collection and scrutiny of both physical and digital evidence, extensive interviews with witnesses, and the pursuit of numerous leads.
Nearly a year later, detectives established probable cause leading to the arrest of 27-year-old Takao R Bay and 30-year-old Elijiah Harvey on charges of 1st Degree Murder. Harvey faces additional charges of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, with suspicion pointing towards him as the perpetrator behind Thomas’s shooting, while Bay’s arrest relates to his purported role as an accomplice. Both suspects were already in custody for unrelated charges when apprehended on 12/20/23.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the potential for further charges persists. Available information suggests a prior association between the victim and suspects, indicating a targeted assault. Harvey’s criminal record includes prior felony convictions for theft, assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm, while Bay has four felony convictions, including possession of a stolen motor vehicle and attempting to evade a police vehicle. Presently, both individuals are detained at Spokane County Jail.
The two suspects in a murder in Spokane on New Year’s Eve in 2022 have both pleaded not guilty. They were arrested in mid-December for first-degree murder.
Anyone possessing information relevant to the case is urged to contact Crime Check at 509-456-2233.
Updates will be posted on the Northwest Law website as they become available.
