Deputy killed, 2 others found dead in Washington shooting - USA Today
Editor’s note: This article discusses domestic violence. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence or an abusive relationship, call the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or visit www.thehotline.org. Callers can remain anonymous.
A sheriff’s deputy was killed, and two other people were found dead after authorities responding to a reported domestic violence shooting in eastern Washington came under fire from a barricaded suspect, officials said Nov. 4. The suspect was later found dead inside the home.
Deputies responded to a domestic violence incident at a home in Spangle, Washington, a small city south of Spokane, at about 2:25 p.m. local time Nov. 3, according to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office. The call came after a woman ran to a neighbor's home and reported that her brother had shot her, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said.
"The suspect had an active felony warrant for their arrest, and there was a belief that there were other potential victims or people in the house who were threatened," Nowels said during a news conference.
Deputies deployed a drone over the property and located a person lying in the yard who was later determined to be dead, the sheriff said. Members of the Spokane County SWAT team and other deputies then approached the home in an effort to reach possible victims when they were met with gunfire from inside.
Two deputies were critically wounded and taken to a hospital, according to the sheriff. Other deputies returned fire and moved the injured officers to safety while providing emergency medical aid.
Authorities later discovered the suspect and another person dead inside the home, Nowels said. The woman who initially reported being shot was hospitalized with injuries that appeared to be non-life-threatening.
"Both of our deputies were and are fine men. Young members of our SWAT team who show up every day, trained to put themselves in harm's way, and they were seriously injured today, going in to try to save people," the sheriff said. "This is not the outcome that any of us want to see, but it is what our law enforcement do."
In an update, the sheriff's office said one of the deputies who was critically injured died on the night of Nov. 3. The deputy, whose name was not immediately released, is survived by his wife and two children.
"It is with extreme sadness we inform the citizens of Spokane County that one of the Deputies who was critically injured has lost his valiant fight and succumbed to his injuries last night," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
The sheriff's office said the second deputy remained on life support Nov. 4 and was not expected to survive. The agency added that the deputy is an organ donor and arrangements were being considered to facilitate donation.
"Everyone at the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office/Spokane Valley Police Department is devastated by yesterday’s tragic and senseless violent shooting," the agency said. "We will continue to support their families and honor their wishes."
The Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team is leading the investigation into both the initial domestic violence shooting and the deputy-involved shooting, according to the sheriff's office.
The agency said deputies and Spokane Valley police officers involved in the incident will not participate in the investigation. Three deputies have been placed on administrative leave as part of the investigation, according to Nowels.
Authorities have not identified the suspect or the other two victims killed in the incident. The sheriff's office said investigators are examining a possible motive for the shooting but noted that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
"A lot of the questions that I have about the why, what caused this, why did this person do this? We don't have answers to," the sheriff said. "That's what the investigation is going to bring forth in the next couple of days and weeks."
