Accused killer admits to having weapon in jail
SPOKANE, Wash. — The man accused of killing a Cheney marijuana store employee is now accused of hiding a weapon in his underpants inside the Spokane County Jail.
According to court documents, a correctional officer received information that a “shank,” a lethal improvised cutting weapon was found on the officer’s assigned floor.
While searching murder suspect Donavan Culps, court documents show the officer recovered at 5 inch liver metal “shank” with white fabric wrapped around the handle inside the front waistband of Culps’ boxer shorts.
Court documents show a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy was called to the jail to assist and arrest Culps. That deputy contacted Culps and read him his Miranda Rights. Documents show that after being read his rights, Culps admitted he intentionally kept the shank in his boxer shorts’ waistband because “that is where you keep shanks.”
Culps is currently awaiting trial for the murder of Cameron Smith in September. Smith worked at the Lucid marijuana store in Cheney. Investigators say Culps shot Smith while Smith sat in his vehicle outside the pot shop, then jumped in the vehicle and drove off.
Smith’s body was located days later near Four Lakes.
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