One of two Washington state sheriff's deputies shot in a firefight with a suspect has died, and the other is not expected to survive, authorities said Wednesday.
Both deputies were wounded Tuesday afternoon as SWAT team members tried to breach a home in Spangle, a small farming community south of Spokane, after a woman told a neighbor she had been shot by her brother. Deputies had determined the suspect had a felony warrant and that there might be other victims, the sheriff's office said.
Gunfire erupted from the home as they attempted to enter, and both deputies were struck and taken to a hospital in critical condition. One died that night. The other was being kept on life support Wednesday, allowing for the donation of his organs, the sheriff's office said. "He will continue to serve others with the gift of life," the statement said.
Sheriff John Nowels described the two as younger members of the SWAT team. The deputy who died had a wife and two children. "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. "They did this with honor and with an unwavering sense of duty."
Other deputies returned fire and found the suspect dead inside the home, along with one other victim in the house and one in the yard. The names of the victims and the suspect have not been released. The woman who reported being shot by her brother was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities are investigating the shooting and what may have led to it.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The death of one deputy and the expected death of a second leaves the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and the community of Spangle mourning two young SWAT members, one of whom is being remembered for his final act of organ donation.
- The confrontation began with a report of a woman shot by her brother, underscoring how quickly a domestic incident and an outstanding felony warrant can escalate into lethal violence.
- The sheriff's office has said it is investigating what led to the shooting, and the findings may clarify the sequence of events inside the home.
Background
Spangle is a small farming community south of Spokane in eastern Washington. The deputies were members of the sheriff's office SWAT team, which is typically called in for high-risk warrant service and barricade situations. The incident began when officers responded to a report that a woman had been shot by her brother.
What to Watch
- The sheriff's office says it is investigating the shooting and what may have led to it; updates may clarify how the suspect opened fire and the circumstances of the other two victims found dead.
- The identities of the deputies, the suspect and the other victims have not been released; their release is likely to be among the next official statements.
- The surviving deputy was on life support Wednesday for organ donation, and the timing of any further announcement will depend on that process.