Man arrested for shooting death of Spokane Empire player

Ricky Tanner

(STORY IMAGE:KHQ.COM)

SPOKANE, Wash. -A weekend shooting on a downtown sidewalk sent Carl Sims, a former Spokane Empire player to the hospital for the gunshot injury. Sims later died from the injury.

Just before 1:00 a.m. on October 8th, an argument developed outside businesses in the area of Sprague Avenue and Washington Street. During the confrontation a man displayed a knife, another grabbed a handgun and fired a shot. Sims was struck by the bullet. 

Major Crimes detectives continued the investigation through today and developed probable cause to arrest Ricky L. Tanner (25). Tanner is the man who fired the handgun.

Tanner was arrested Wednesday and booked into Spokane County Jail for one count of Murder 2nd degree.

Tanner has an extensive criminal record. He pleaded guilty in January 2015 to Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and was picked up for 3rd degree Assault in July of 2013. Tanner was arrested for Assault in the 3rd degree a few months later in September of 2013, and in November of 2013 he was arrested for 2nd degree robbery. 


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