A shooting followed by a gun battle with responding law enforcement officers left four people dead in eastern Washington on Tuesday, including a Spokane County deputy and the suspected gunman. A second deputy was critically injured, officials said.
Deputies arrived at a home in Spokane County, near the Idaho border, at about 2:30 p.m. local time after a woman reportedly told a neighbor that her brother had shot her, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said at a news conference.
The sheriff’s office said investigators learned the suspect had an active felony warrant and believed additional victims could be inside the residence.
“SWAT team members and deputies approached the house, attempted to breach the door and were met with gunfire,” Nowels said.
Two deputies suffered critical gunshot wounds, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said. Other officers returned fire while working to get their injured colleagues out of harm’s way.
One deputy later died from his injuries. The second remained on life support and was not expected to survive, according to the sheriff’s office.
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Authorities had not released the deputies’ names, but Nowels said both were young members of the SWAT team. The deputy who died leaves behind a wife and two children, the sheriff’s office said.
Responding officers found one person dead inside the home and another victim outside in the yard, Nowels said. The suspected shooter was also killed. Officials had not released the identities of the victims or the suspect.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including what led to the violence, remain under investigation.
The woman who reported being shot by her brother was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Nowels said.
“Although we know our Deputies knew the risks, they bravely moved toward danger to protect others they did not know,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “They did this with honor and with an unwavering sense of duty to their oath to serve and protect the citizens of Spokane County; they heroically placed themselves in mortal danger. They are true examples of selfless service and dedication.”
“They are the epitome of what the men and women in law enforcement are; they are the best of all of us,” the statement continued. “We cherish having served with them as we begin to process the devastating and unthinkable loss.”
