In the late hours of a Tuesday night in the Hillyard neighborhood of Spokane, Washington, a complex and ultimately tragic series of events unfolded, culminating in the death of 30-year-old Brandon Compogno, a White male. On October 8, 2013, at a residence on East Empire Avenue, Compogno was fatally shot during a confrontation with another man, Joseph Buskirk.
The prelude to the deadly encounter involved a transaction arranged between Buskirk and Compogno's girlfriend, which reportedly included an exchange of pills and sex for a Blu-ray player.
The situation escalated when Compogno arrived at the home to find Buskirk with his girlfriend. Believing his girlfriend was having an affair, Compogno confronted Buskirk, allegedly drawing a gun and forcing him into the residence. Inside, Compogno is said to have taken two tablet computers and cellphones belonging to Buskirk. He then purportedly gave Buskirk an ultimatum: leave and remain silent or be taken downstairs and shot. As the two men exited the house, Compogno reportedly told Buskirk to run or he would be shot. At that point, Buskirk drew his own semi-automatic handgun and fired multiple shots at Compogno.
When Spokane Police responded to the shooting just before midnight, they found Compogno with a gunshot wound. Despite the circumstances, Joseph Buskirk was not arrested in connection with Brandon Compogno's death. Buskirk claimed he acted in self-defense, a claim that law enforcement appeared to accept as he was released after questioning. While he was not prosecuted for the homicide, Buskirk did later plead guilty to selling drugs. Police recovered both firearms at the scene.
Years later, the story took another violent turn. In December 2020, Joseph Buskirk was shot and killed. The suspect in his murder was identified as Shawn McCoy, a close friend of Brandon Compogno. Authorities believed McCoy's motive was to avenge Compogno's death from seven years prior. The cycle of violence concluded when McCoy himself was killed in a shootout with police in January 2021.
