Christen DeMars, a 22-year-old White/Caucasian female, died on March 24, 2015, in Spokane, Washington, from a fatal gunshot wound. On that Tuesday morning, a neighbor in her apartment building at 2928 E. Diamond called 911 after hearing a gunshot and yelling. Soon after, a man knocked on the neighbor's door asking for someone who knew CPR. The neighbor went to the apartment and found Christen unresponsive on her bed and attempted to revive her.
The man who had sought help then fled the scene.
When authorities first arrived, they initially believed DeMars was suffering from a drug overdose, as she was unresponsive and vomiting. Syringes and other drug paraphernalia were found in the apartment. It wasn't until later, after she was transported to Holy Family Hospital, that a gunshot wound was discovered above her right hip. DeMars ultimately succumbed to her injury at the hospital, surrounded by her family.
Police quickly identified her 28-year-old boyfriend, Cameron D. Keith, as a person of interest in her death. It was revealed that DeMars had an active protection order against Keith, and he had previous convictions for violating it. Her mother informed police that Keith was an abusive boyfriend and that her daughter had been trying to end the relationship. A. 45 caliber handgun and ammunition were recovered from the apartment.
On April 2, 2015, Cameron Keith was located and arrested on an outstanding warrant. Following his arrest, he was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Christen DeMars' death. Keith admitted to being in the apartment with DeMars when she was shot. He claimed he had fallen asleep after using heroin and was awakened by the sound of the gunshot, suggesting she may have accidentally rolled onto the weapon. However, investigators noted that the bullet's trajectory and the lack of gunpowder residue on her clothing contradicted his account of the incident. In addition to the murder charge, Keith also faced charges for burglary, violation of a no-contact order, unlawful possession of a firearm, and cocaine possession.
