Disabled homeless man who was set afire in Spokane dies

A homeless military veteran and amputee who was set afire while sleeping in his wheelchair on a street in Spokane is dead.

Douglas R. Dawson, 50, died late Monday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being taken off life support, hospital officials said.

Sean Knold, 23, of Seattle and Matt Tramell, 22, of Portland, who were arrested after an unrelated robbery of a woman in Spokane on Friday, the same day as the attack on Dawson, remained in custody and could face charges in his death, police said.

"Their statements led detectives to believe the pair was involved in the fire," Officer Thomas Lee said.

A friend said Dawson, who had one leg, had been homeless in Spokane for at least three years. The motivation for the attack was unclear, police said.

Democrat Peter Goldmark's congressional campaign staff announced plans to serve a free dinner in Dawson's memory this evening at a picnic area in Spokane's Riverfront Park. Goldmark is seeking to oust U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris, R-Spokane.