SPOKANE, Wash – Spokane Police forwarded a charge of 2nd degree murder Thursday against Avondre Graham, 17, in the May stabbing death of Sharlotte McGill. But two days later, Graham is still awaiting his first court appearance on that new charge.
He was arrested September 13th on assault and robbery charges, and is being held in the juvenile detention center.
Because Graham is already in custody, police forward charges to the prosecutor's office, and it's the prosecutors who then file those charges in court. But that process takes time. Prosecutors must review the case not only from the police point of view, but also need to get ready to defend the charge in front of a judge.
KHQ also learned Friday that the gang unit of the prosecutor's office is handling the case, although Spokane Police tell KHQ that does not mean they believe Graham is necessarily in a gang. However, it is a possibility they will be looking into.
In order to classify someone as a gang member, there is a specific list of requirements that must be met. For example, if someone has been arrested for gang activity, identified as a gang member by an informant, or has displayed gang symbols, clothing or tattoos.
Again, police say they believe Graham acted alone in the random stabbing death of Sharlotte McGill outside her Spokane apartment in May.
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