On the night of August 1, 2021, the life of 22-year-old male, Jakobe Ford, was tragically cut short in Spokane, Washington. A gifted athlete and father, Ford was shot and killed outside of Lucky's Bar in the downtown area, the culmination of a long-standing and bitter dispute. The conflict stemmed from a tangled personal history involving a woman Ford was dating, who was the mother of a child with another man, Michael H.
Le.
The animosity between the two men had been escalating for some time, marked by previous physical altercations and threats. Earlier that same year, in February, Le had been arrested for assaulting Ford and his girlfriend, which resulted in a court order for him to surrender any firearms. Despite this, the tension persisted. On the fatal evening, witnesses inside the bar observed Le appearing to photograph or video Ford. The confrontation moved outside, where the two men engaged in an intense argument. According to Ford’s sister, who was present, Le turned away briefly as if to grab something, then turned back and fired a gun. Four sparks lit up the night, and Jakobe Ford fell to the ground.
The shooter, identified as Michael H. Le, then 25, fled the scene on foot. Spokane police officers who were patrolling the area quickly gave chase and apprehended him. While retracing Le's escape route, officers located the firearm used in the shooting in a nearby parking lot. Le was taken into custody and his bond was set at one million dollars. Initially charged with second-degree murder, the charge was later upgraded to first-degree premeditated murder as more evidence of his prior threats against Ford came to light.
In August 2022, Michael H. Le pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, and criminal mischief. The plea spared the victim's family, including his sister who witnessed the shooting, the trauma of a full trial. The following month, a judge sentenced Le to a little more than 25 years in prison. The loss of Jakobe Ford was a profound blow to the community, who remembered him not only as a loving father to his young son but also as a record-breaking track and field star from Shadle Park High School who had just signed a contract to pursue a professional athletic career.
