On a cold December evening in Spokane, Washington, the life of 24-year-old Michael Eric Lindblom, a White male, was tragically cut short. On December 11, 2021, Lindblom was at a home in the 1300 block of West Shannon Avenue when a man, uninvited, entered the residence. The man, who was an acquaintance of former tenants, was reportedly exhibiting extreme paranoia and speaking to people who were not there. Without provocation, he produced a handgun and shot Lindblom.
First responders arrived around 7 p.m. to find Lindblom with gunshot wounds. Despite their efforts, he succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head.
The aftermath of the shooting saw a swift but grim turn of events. Shortly after the incident on West Shannon Avenue, police received reports of another shooting just a few blocks away at the corner of North Monroe Street and West Knox Avenue. There, they discovered the man suspected of killing Lindblom with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. There was no indication that the shooter and Lindblom knew each other.
The suspect was later identified as 39-year-old Rigoberto Garcia Lopez. He remained hospitalized and unidentified to the public while police awaited his potential recovery and subsequent arrest. However, on December 22, 2021, eleven days after the shooting, Lopez died from his self-inflicted gunshot wound at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. His death brought an end to the immediate criminal investigation, leaving a grieving family and community to mourn the senseless loss of a young man known for his kindness and desire to help others. Michael was remembered by his family, including a twin brother, as a "huge nerd" who loved video games, music, and art, and who had dreams of becoming a chef. His family said he was a protector with a big heart who spent the last six years of his life walking the streets of Seattle and Spokane, offering hope and love to those in need.
