Suspect in Custody After Committing Multiple Armed Robberies

Suspect in Custody After Committing Multiple Armed Robberies

Ofc. Daniel Strassenberg, PIO

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 4:27 p.m.

On November 2^nd, 2025, at about 10am, Spokane Police responded to an armed robbery at a local marijuana retail store in the 1500 block of South Lewis Street. An employee at the location reported that an unknown male in a Halloween mask had just robbed the store, armed with a shotgun. Cash had been stolen from the register. Officers obtained video evidence of the robbery and a possible suspect vehicle. Investigators were able to identify the vehicle involved through further investigation.

In the following days, after additional witness interviews and assistance from law enforcement partners with the Spokane and Kalispel Tribes, investigators were able to identify a possible suspect, 45-year-old Justin McDowell.

On November 7^th at about 11:30am, while investigators attempted to locate McDowell, another armed robbery occurred at a gaming store located in the 400 block of East Holland Avenue. Video evidence obtained after this robbery showed a similar Halloween mask, weapon, and clothing were used in this crime. Cash from the register was the target of this robbery as well.

In the evening hours of November 7th, Spokane Police patrol officers and detectives with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Major Crimes Unit (MCU) located McDowell in the 2900 block of East Broad. He was taken into custody and evidence of the crimes was seized at the location.

McDowell was booked into the Spokane County Jail for two counts of 1^st Degree Robbery. He is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.

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Officer Daniel Strassenberg 509-835-4568 [email protected]