Posted on April 23, 2019

Carjacking Suspect Admits to Killing; Claims He Was High on Drugs, Court Documents Say

KOMO-TV, April 18, 2018

Probable cause was found for Gurkeerat Kainth, the suspect in Monday’s deadly carjacking, Thursday for murder in the second degree, unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree and theft of a motor vehicle, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Bond was set at $1 million. Prosecutor’s say charges could be filed within a few days.

Jered Sperling

According to court documents, Kainth, 23, is accused of stealing Jered Sperling‘s pickup truck while Sperling was standing next to the running vehicle speaking with customers at his storage facility. The truck was stopped with the driver door open near the gate of the Kent facility around 8:10 p.m. Monday night.

When Sperling saw his truck was being stolen he grabbed the side of the vehicle, ending up in the bed of the truck, according to court documents.

Sperling’s wife reported the theft and kidnapping immediately, according to court documents. Police responded and were unsuccessful in immediately locating the vehicle or Sperling.

Sperling and the truck were located Tuesday morning in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Sperling had been shot dead.

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Based on the investigation, police went to Kainth’s Kent residence where they arrested him for the crime. {snip}

Gurkeerat Kainth

Kainth told detectives he had stolen the truck and at the time had been high on narcotics, according to court documents. He claimed to have found a gun in the center console of the truck and then shot Sperling before dumping the truck at the Cascade Apartments, according to court documents.

Kainth has two prior felony convictions for possession of a stolen vehicle and a current pending case for possession of a stolen vehicle