SPOKANE, Wash. – The man charged in a drive-by shooting in downtown Spokane last year has pled guilty to multiple assault charges as part of an agreement.
Early in the morning on April 9, 2022, three people were shot outside of Lucky’s Pub by someone driving the wrong way down Sprague Ave. Two of the victims, 32-year-old Nathaniel Beier and 49-year-old Tonya Roberts, were shot in the head. A third victim, 31-year-old Katelyn Corigliano, was shot through the leg and suffered a serious compound fracture.
Initially, doctors believed both Beier and Roberts were unlikely to survive, however both regained consciousness and are working to recover.
Through surveillance footage and interviews, detectives identified the suspected shooter as 31-year-old Johnathan Love. He was apprehended in his BMW SUV around 10 minutes after the shooting by a WSP trooper, with a shell casing visible on the floor board. The detective who interviewed Love upon his detainment stated Love appeared intoxicated and vomited several times.
According to court documents, Love had been at Lucky’s with two friends, but were asked to leave due to their behavior. Love than allegedly drove his friend home, dropping him off in northeast Spokane at around 12:30 a.m. Love alleged he didn’t remember anything after that until he was pulled over in Airway Heights.
Surveillance footage from a nearby business captured a person who matched Love’s description entering a BMW SUV at around 1:24 a.m. and leaving a parking lot, then driving on Sprague as shots were fired just over a minute later.
Initially charged with three counts of first-degree assault and three counts of drive-by shooting, Love pled guilty to two counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree assault as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
The prosecutor and Love’s attorneys recommended a 17-year prison sentence to the judge. The maximum sentence for first-degree assault is life in prison and a fine of up to $50,000.
Love is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 3 at 9:30 a.m.
