SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash — It’s now up to Washington Governor Bob Ferguson if a convicted Spokane murderer goes free after serving two-thirds of his sentence.
The Washington State Clemency and Pardons Board voted 3 to 1 Thursday to grant Travis R. Comeslast, 50, a commutation. The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office says one board member changed their vote from a previous hearing.
Court documents and testimony show in June of 1996, Comeslast shot Christopher Gongyin, who was sleeping in his bedroom with his wife and infant child. Comeslast and another man woke Gongyin, got into an argument and Comeslast shot Gongyin in the head, the prosecutor’s office says. The bullet burned the infant’s leg as well. Comeslast then ordered Gongyin’s wife to give him money and drugs, pulling her and the infant out of bed to get items he wanted…