Hasani Vita, a 24-year-old Black / African American man, died on April 21, 2025, in Spokane, Washington, after being shot. The incident that led to his death began as a disagreement between individuals who knew each other and quickly escalated. Deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the afternoon near West Geiger Boulevard and South Hayford Road, close to an Amazon sorting center. Upon arrival, they found Hasani Vita lying near the road with gunshot wounds.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Spokane County Medical Examiner later confirmed that the cause of his death was gunshot wounds and ruled it a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting led law enforcement to identify 21-year-old William K. Baldwin as a suspect. Baldwin was arrested on the evening of April 29, 2025, by the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force and the Spokane County Sheriff's Office in north Spokane. He was subsequently booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, with his bond set at $1 million.
According to court documents, the altercation that resulted in Vita's death started as an argument between him and his coworker, Baldwin. The argument reportedly began on a bus and continued as they walked. Prosecutors allege that Baldwin shot Vita in the face and torso. A witness at the scene reported seeing the argument escalate and identified Baldwin as the shooter. Although Baldwin was detained for questioning on the day of the shooting, he initially denied involvement. His hoodie, which contained a gun holster, was found at the scene, though the gun itself has not been recovered.
Hasani Vita is remembered by his family and friends as a kind-hearted and loving person with an enthusiastic and energetic spirit. He is survived by a daughter. His older brother and best friend described their deep sense of loss, remembering him as more than just a friend, but a brother. In the wake of his death, his family organized a GoFundMe campaign to provide support for his loved ones and held a funeral service open to the community.
