CHENEY – Local police successfully resolved an alleged “suicide-by-cop” attempted in the early morning hours of Jan. 24.
Asahel Chavez, 21, was arrested following the incident and booked into the Spokane County Jail. He is facing charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree malicious mischief, seven counts of discharging a firearm and seven counts of reckless endangerment.
He remained in the jail at press time, held on $100,000 bail.
Police responded to reports of an armed suicidal subject at 3:30 a.m. Jan. 24, records show.
As rounds pierced the ceiling of an apartment in the 700 block of West First Street, authorities swiftly sprang into action, records show, noting officers urged residents to vacate the premises and find refuge elsewhere.
With the armed individual barricaded inside the apartment, police secured the area, drawing support from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Airway Heights Police Department and Eastern Washington University Police Department, records show.
As officers attempted to engage with a neighbor, the situation escalated as the subject — later identified as Chavez — fired more rounds, records show.
During the standoff, three additional shots targeted the front door, records show.
Announcements echoed through the complex, urging Chavez to surrender peacefully while advising others to stay indoors, records show.
Despite repeated pleas, he initially remained entrenched.
With negotiations underway, police determined Chavez had communicated plans of “suicide-by-cop” to a family member and was armed with a rifle, records show.
Evacuation efforts ensued, ensuring the safety of neighboring units as tensions mounted.
Finally, at around 6 a.m., Chavez surrendered without further incident.
A subsequent search of the residence yielded firearms, ammunition and spent casings.
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