On the early morning of December 1, 2025, a violent incident unfolded at the Kensington Court Apartments in Spokane, Washington, claiming the life of Robert Nolan Manny Denunzio, a 24-year-old Native American man. Around 3:15 a.m., police officers responded to reports of a shooting at the residential complex located near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Division Street.
Upon entering the unit, first responders discovered the victim suffering from a critical gunshot wound to the head and an injury to his right hand. He was immediately transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where medical personnel fought to save him. Despite these life-saving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries approximately 14 hours after the attack, leading the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office to rule the death a homicide.
Witnesses at the scene provided harrowing details to detectives regarding the events leading up to the violence. Denunzio had been visiting the apartment when a man, known to some present by the moniker Chaos, arrived. According to witness statements, the assailant, later identified as 33-year-old Randy R. Chaparro, produced a turquoise handgun and shot the victim in the face without any apparent provocation. One witness reported that she had attempted to hug the victim just moments before the weapon was fired. Following the discharge of the firearm, the shooter allegedly rifled through the pockets of the wounded victim as if searching for property before fleeing the scene. Testimony provided to investigators indicated that Chaparro had made chilling remarks earlier that weekend, allegedly stating he felt like killing someone that day.
Law enforcement launched an immediate search for the suspect, utilizing witness descriptions which noted distinctive tattoos near both of his eyes. By the evening of December 1, detectives received information placing Chaparro at an apartment on the 500 block of West Sprague Avenue. The Spokane Police Department’s Major Crimes and Special Investigations Units executed a search warrant at the location, successfully taking Chaparro into custody without further incident. Although the suspect denied knowing the victim or being involved in the shooting, police noted that he had been recorded on surveillance video returning to the location where he was arrested and had not left until police arrived. No firearm was recovered during the arrest.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, Randy Chaparro appeared before a judge in Spokane County Superior Court. He faced charges of second-degree murder and second-degree assault, the latter stemming from allegations that he pointed the gun at the apartment tenant before escaping. Prosecutors revealed that Chaparro had a significant criminal history and was on release conditions for a prior charge of unlawful possession of a firearm at the time of the shooting. During the hearing, the court set his bond at $5 million. The victim's mother addressed the court via video, describing her son as a good kid who did not deserve to die and pleading for justice against the man accused of taking his life without cause.
