A shooting and following shootout with responding authorities in eastern Washington state killed four people on Tuesday, including a deputy and the suspect, and gravely injured another deputy, according to officials.
Deputies arrived to a home in Spokane County, which borders Idaho, around 2:30 p.m. local time after a woman informed her neighbor that she had been shot by her brother, Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said during a news conference.
The defendant had an active felony warrant, and there could be further victims, according to the sheriff’s office.SWAT team personnel and deputies approached the house, attempted to break through the door, and were met with gunfire,” Nowels stated.
The rounds gravely injured two deputies, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Other deputies returned fire, according to the office, while also attempting to transfer injured members of their squad to safety.
According to the sheriff’s office, one of the injured deputies died as a result of his injuries, while the other was on life support and was not expected to survive.
Neither deputy has been officially recognized, but Nowels described them as youthful SWAT squad members. According to the sheriff’s office, the deceased deputy is survived by his wife and two children.
Nowels stated that those who responded to the location discovered one individual deceased inside the house and another in the yard. The suspect has also died, he stated. Neither the victims’ nor the suspect’s names have been disclosed.
Authorities are investigating the shooting and what sparked it.
The woman who claimed to have been shot by her brother was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Nowels.
“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,” it added. “We cherish having served with them as we begin to process the devastating and unthinkable loss.”
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