Joshua Paine was a 42-year-old clinical engineer from Spokane, Washington, described by family as a devoted husband and father. His wife, Leslie, said their last morning together on May 23, 2024, was ordinary: they finished coffee, watched the news and she kissed him goodbye before he left for work at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he had worked since 2015.

Around 5:30 a.m. in Spokane’s Garland District, Paine was driving a silver Honda Ridgeline when a black Mercedes driven by 28-year-old Caleb Carder sped up and blocked his path. Surveillance footage shows both men exiting their vehicles and arguing briefly. As Paine stood beside his vehicle, Carder began shooting at him and appeared to empty the magazine while Paine tried to run toward a nearby business. Paine collapsed on the sidewalk and later died; an autopsy found twelve gunshot wounds. Investigators reported no evidence that Paine provoked the attack.

Carder was arrested and initially booked on suspicion of second-degree murder; the charge was later upgraded to first-degree premeditated murder and bond was set at $5 million. Did anyone in the Garland District see the vehicles or the argument that morning?