Spokane County Deputies: Two officers killed after breach gone wrong in Spangle
A suspect with a felony warrant died inside a rural home after exchanging gunfire with SWAT teams, leaving two young deputies dead and two other victims on the scene.
By Riya Zhao ·
Two Spokane County sheriff's deputies died after a shootout at a home in Spangle, Washington, a small farming community south of Spokane. Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that one officer died Tuesday night after the incident, while the second officer remained on life support Wednesday with the intent to donate his organs.
The response began Tuesday afternoon when a woman told a neighbor she had been shot by her brother. Deputies arrived at the residence and discovered the suspect held a felony warrant. Fearing other victims were inside, SWAT team members and deputies moved to breach the door. Gunfire erupted from the house, striking two deputies who were rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Sheriff John Nowels identified the fallen officers as younger members of the SWAT team. The deputy who died Tuesday night left behind a wife and two children. The sheriff’s office stated that the second deputy, who is being kept on life support, will “continue to serve others with the gift of life.”
Other deputies returned fire during the exchange. They found the suspect dead inside the home. Investigators also located one other victim inside the house and a third in the yard. The names of the suspect and the victims have not been released.
The woman who initially reported the shooting was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The sheriff’s office described the officers as having “bravely moved toward danger to protect others they did not know.” Investigators are currently examining the scene to determine what led to the confrontation.
