SPOKANE VALLEY – In a swift response to a reported domestic violence call, Spokane Valley Deputies found themselves in a tense situation resulting in a deputy-involved shooting in the 6800 block of E. 10th Avenue in Spokane Valley this evening.
The deputies were initially dispatched to the location after a third party reported a possible domestic violence incident at a residence. The incident, reported after 6:00 pm, involved a male roommate allegedly breaking a door and refusing to leave the female victim alone. Due to a high volume of priority calls, deputies were not immediately available to respond. However, a few minutes later, the call was updated, indicating that the male had left the residence.
Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the male suspect had an active domestic violence warrant for his arrest and a no-contact order restraining him from contacting the victim. As deputies responded to the scene, they received information that the suspect had returned to the residence, now armed with a gun.
Within minutes of their arrival, shots were fired, and the suspect was struck. Immediate medical aid was administered, and the suspect was swiftly transported to the hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, no uninvolved citizens, the victim, or deputies were injured during the incident.
Deputies at the scene noted the presence of what appeared to be a firearm near the location where the suspect was shot. However, as part of standard evidence preservation procedures, the deputies refrained from touching, inspecting, or recovering the weapon.
The Officer-Involved Protocol was activated, and the Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR) Team is now leading the investigation. The SIIR Team, composed of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, Liberty Lake Police Department, Airway Heights Police Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, is currently on-site, meticulously processing evidence and documenting the scene.
The managing agency for this incident is the Washington State Patrol, and all future communications regarding the case will be disseminated through the SIIR Team. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office has affirmed that the name of the deputy involved in the incident will be released when deemed appropriate.
In accordance with WAC 139-12, personnel from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department will not be directly involved in the SIIR Team’s investigation. As per standard protocol, the deputy who discharged their weapon has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Once the SIIR Team concludes its investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Clare is an Eastern Washington University graduate and a reporter at Free Press Publishing.
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