On a crisp November evening in 2014, the life of 26-year-old Zachary Lamb, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short in what police believe may have been a senseless act of road rage. Lamb and his pregnant fiancée were returning to their Spokane, Washington, home on the lower South Hill after an evening out celebrating their growing family.
Shortly after parking their car just before midnight on November 7th, a dark-colored, boxy SUV pulled up behind them.
The male driver of the SUV began shouting expletives and racial slurs at Lamb. After a few moments, Lamb exited his vehicle and was shot twice in the chest before he could utter a word. His fiancée, who remained in the passenger seat, was physically unharmed but witnessed the horrific event. The shooter then fled the scene, leaving a devastating and perplexing crime for investigators.
In the months and years that followed, the Spokane Police Department struggled to identify a suspect in Lamb's murder, which was the only unsolved homicide in the county for 2014. Investigators explored the possibility of a road rage incident, as Lamb’s car had been experiencing mechanical issues that could have led to erratic driving. Despite their efforts, which included reviewing surveillance footage from the restaurant they had visited, police could find no evidence of a prior altercation. The shooter was described by witnesses as a white male in his 40s with a gravelly voice and a beard, driving a dark SUV with a distinctive roof rack.
The case has grown cold, leaving Lamb's family and the community with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. At the time of his death, Lamb was an aspiring chef who had recently been promoted at a local restaurant and was excitedly awaiting the birth of his first child. The investigation remains open, with law enforcement still seeking any information that might lead to an arrest and bring justice to Zachary Lamb and his family.
