Spokane County Deputy Dies After Shooting on Domestic Violence Call

A Spokane County sheriff’s deputy died overnight after being shot while responding to a domestic violence call near Spangle, Washington, and a second deputy remained on life support and was not expected to survive, according to the Spokesman-Review.

Three other people were killed in the violence, including the suspect, the newspaper reported.

What happened

Deputies were sent to a home in the Spangle area, a small community south of Spokane, after a report of domestic violence. Gunfire broke out after they arrived, and both deputies were struck. They were taken to a hospital, where one died during the night.

Investigators have not released a full account of the sequence of events. Officials said an independent team would review the shooting, which is standard practice in Washington when police are involved in a deadly use of force.

Sheriff speaks

Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels described the loss as devastating for the department and the community, the Spokesman-Review reported. He asked the public to keep the deputies’ families in their thoughts and said the office would share more information as the investigation allows.

The names of the deputies and the other victims had not been widely released by Thursday morning, pending notification of relatives.

State response

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson was expected to travel to the area, according to the newspaper. Law enforcement agencies across the region expressed condolences, and some departments placed mourning bands on their badges.

The danger of domestic calls

Law enforcement groups have long described domestic violence calls as among the most unpredictable situations officers face. Emotions run high, weapons may be present in the home, and the people involved are often in crisis. National data on officer deaths shows that domestic disturbance calls account for a significant share of line-of-duty shootings each year.

What comes next

The investigation will examine how the confrontation unfolded and how the suspect obtained the weapon used. Memorial plans for the fallen deputy are expected in the coming days. If the second deputy dies, it would be one of the deadliest days in the history of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

How we reported this

This report draws on reporting from the Associated Press and other major news organizations, named in the text. Figures from early or partial counts are identified as such and may change. BURN VOC will update this story as new information is released.