In what has been described as a senseless act of violence, 23-year-old Caucasian male, Andrew Buonocore, was shot and killed in Spokane Valley, Washington, on August 18, 2024. The incident, which police believe may have been fueled by road rage, unfolded at the intersection of Trent Avenue and Argonne Road. Buonocore was driving his gray Nissan Sentra with his girlfriend, Macie Parker, in the passenger seat when the tragedy occurred.
While stopped at a red light, a black Dodge truck,
driven by 43-year-old Marc G. Rinard, pulled up alongside Buonocore's vehicle. According to Parker's account to the police, Rinard began yelling and honking his horn at them before rolling down his window, pointing a pistol, and firing at Buonocore. The single gunshot struck Buonocore in the upper torso, and he died at the scene. Parker was physically unharmed in the attack and told authorities she did not know Rinard or why he shot at them. A witness who was also on Trent Avenue reported seeing the pickup driving erratically and at a high speed just before the shooting. This witness heard a "pop" and then screaming, and saw the truck drive through the red light after the shot was fired. She was able to provide the truck's license plate number to the police and attempted to perform CPR on Buonocore while on the phone with 911.
Following the shooting, Marc G. Rinard fled the scene and drove to his home. His wife informed police that he arrived home acting erratically and carrying his Glock pistol. She stated that he told her the police were coming because he had just shot someone, and she believed he hid the gun in the attic. Rinard later surrendered to the police at his residence. He has since been charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault. During questioning, a detective noted that Rinard's eyes were red and watery and that he smelled of alcohol, with Rinard himself stating he drank daily and would likely go through alcohol withdrawal in jail. In the aftermath of his arrest, the Washington State Board of Nursing suspended Rinard's nursing license, a profession he had held since 2010.
Andrew Buonocore's family remembers him as a man who was "always smiling" and had a unique and loving personality. His mother, Deborah Buonocore, who resides in Texas, described her son as a "one-of-a-kind kid." His sister, Ashley Carhart, with whom he shared a close bond, expressed her hope that Rinard "gets what he deserves." Buonocore's family is still reeling from the sudden and tragic loss of their loved one.
