Two Washington sheriff’s deputies were killed while moving toward a home to rescue potential hostages after a woman reported a domestic violence shooting, authorities said.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies Mason Acheson and Parker Perry were shot from inside the residence near Spangle, south of Spokane, as they attempted to enter Nov. 3, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department said they were mourning the loss and standing behind the deputies’ families.
A Spokane County sheriff’s deputy is pictured at a hospital where two deputies were taken after being wounded during a domestic violence response. (Fox News)
“They moved toward danger to protect people they did not know,” the agencies said in a statement. “Their actions reflect the highest ideals of selfless service and dedication.”
Deputies arrived at approximately 2:25 p.m. after a woman called to report that she had been shot.
Investigators determined that the suspect was wanted on an active felony warrant and could have additional weapons. Because other victims might still have been inside, officials requested a SWAT response. The woman was transported to a hospital with injuries believed to be non-life-threatening.
Perry, a K-9 deputy, responded with his dog, Brego. The sheriff’s office said he was part of the team that approached the house around 3:15 p.m. and forced entry.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Parker Perry is shown wearing tactical gear. He was fatally wounded while responding to a possible hostage situation near Spangle, Washington. (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)
After Perry and Acheson were hit by gunfire, fellow officers returned fire, moved the wounded deputies to safety and began emergency treatment. Medical helicopters were requested, while portions of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 195 were closed to speed their transport, the Washington State Patrol said.
Acheson died at the hospital. Perry was kept on life support as preparations were made for organ donation. The sheriff’s office said he would “continue to serve others through the gift of life.” Both deputies were married and had two children. Perry and his wife were also expecting a third child.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Mason Acheson, pictured in camouflage, served as a SWAT sniper and sergeant in the Washington Army National Guard. (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)
At the residence, Spokane police assumed control as SWAT teams from Spokane and Kootenai County entered the operation. A drone sent into the home located the suspect dead, according to the State Patrol.
The Spokane County medical examiner said Ryan Larsen, 37, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, The Spokesman-Review reported. The examiner also identified two other victims, Suzanne Larsen, 72, and Rebecca Larsen, 45. A family obituary described them as Larsen’s mother and sister, the newspaper reported.
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“It was a profoundly tragic day in Spokane County,” Sheriff John Nowels told reporters, according to the outlet. “Many families have been affected.”
Acheson and Perry served together in the same Washington Army National Guard infantry battalion, according to the sheriff’s office. Acheson enlisted in 2011, eventually attaining the rank of sergeant. He served in Poland from 2021 to 2022 and received three Army Commendation Medals. Before joining the sheriff’s office in 2022, he spent eight years as a Washington State Patrol trooper and firearms instructor. In his role as a SWAT sniper, he provided overwatch for colleagues entering dangerous situations.
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Mason Acheson is pictured with his wife and two children. He was killed in the line of duty near Spangle, Washington. (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)
“When danger confronted him, he stepped forward to protect life,” the sheriff’s office said of Acheson.
Perry joined the sheriff’s office in 2020 and served on its SWAT team for three years before becoming a K-9 deputy in 2025. He entered the National Guard in 2017, advanced to captain as a military intelligence officer and received two Army Commendation Medals. The sheriff’s office said he responded to the call near Spangle “on his own, without prompting.”
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Parker Perry poses with his K-9 partner, Brego. The pair responded to the Nov. 3 domestic violence call near Spangle, Washington. (Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)
FBI Director Kash Patel paid tribute to each deputy in separate posts on X, identifying Nov. 4 as Acheson’s end-of-watch date and Nov. 7 as Perry’s.
Patel highlighted that both deputies were military veterans and promised the FBI’s support for their loved ones, friends and colleagues. “They will have our full support,” he wrote in both messages.
The FBI also released individual statements honoring Acheson and Perry.
Rep. Michael Baumgartner, R-Wash., said he knew Acheson and his wife through a CrossFit gym. He added that Acheson’s wife had once been his children’s piano teacher, describing the couple as “just wonderful people” in a tribute.
In a separate post, Baumgartner urged people to pray for both families and said the deputies “both died protecting our community.”
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson directed that flags at state facilities be flown at half-staff Monday, Nov. 9, to honor the fallen deputies.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said its Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort is collecting donations for funeral costs. Any money left after those expenses will go to the deputies’ families. The office said it was “grateful and honored” by the many condolences and prayers.
“The families have asked for privacy as they endure this devastating loss,” the sheriff’s office said.
