On a tragic night in Spokane, Washington, the life of a 29-year-old Caucasian male, Thomas Baroni-Abrego, was cut short on March 20, 2016. What began as an arranged meeting for what he believed to be a trade of drugs for sex turned into a fatal robbery. Baroni-Abrego had exchanged numerous text messages with a person he thought was a woman named McKenna, setting up the encounter.
However, the texts were a deceptive lure, part of a premeditated plan to rob him.
Just after 9:30 p.m., a car carrying two women and three men pulled into a parking lot at 1320 N. Howard. A short time later, Baroni-Abrego arrived in his own vehicle, and the two women got in with him. As this was happening, two men who had been hiding approached Baroni-Abrego's car. One of the men, later identified as Isaiah B. Hamblin, fired at least four shots, fatally wounding Baroni-Abrego. As Baroni-Abrego staggered out of his car, Hamblin got in and drove it away. The two women and the other man fled in the car they had arrived in, where a fourth man had been waiting.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of five individuals. Isaiah B. Hamblin, 25, and Kaitlyn I. Brocher, 18, were charged with first-degree murder. Jacob A. Smith, 19, also faced a first-degree murder charge. A 17-year-old female, Quiaunte Bridges, was arrested and charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree murder, and conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery. The fifth suspect, 19-year-old Alonzo C. Favel, initially evaded capture but eventually turned himself in to the police.
Court documents revealed that the group had planned the robbery together, intending to share any money and drugs they obtained from Baroni-Abrego. It was stated that Hamblin, who was reportedly involved with heroin and needed money, was the one who orchestrated the robbery. The tragic event was a devastating blow to the Baroni-Abrego family, who had already suffered a profound loss just seven months prior when Thomas's older brother and two young nieces were killed in a car crash.
