Spokane Police shoot, kill domestic violence suspect in Logan neighborhood

SPOKANE, Wash – Spokane Police shot and killed a man Thursday morning when responding to a domestic violence call in northeast Spokane.

SPD says out-of-state family members of the man called 911 around 4:30 a.m. They reported the man and his wife were having ongoing disputes, and he was making suicidal comments.

The wife then called 911 and reported her husband had been drinking and was armed with a gun and possibly a knife. She reported he was threatening to kill himself if she left him.

Officers arrived at the home near Montgomery and Cincinnati, just north of Gonzaga University.

The wife told police from a second story window she was unable to safely leave with her two children as the man was downstairs.

SPD says officers heard the two arguing and heard the woman yell, “No, no, no,” and “Please don’t.” Then they heard screaming, the mention of a gun, and what sounded like a scuffle.

Officers then went inside the home and saw the two physically fighting as the man was holding the gun.

Officers intervened and there was a brief struggle between them and the man. One officer then shot the man. The woman and children, an infant and toddler, were able to safely be rescued.

The husband died at the scene.

When asked if the man also fired shots, Assistant Chief Matt Cowles says he did not have that information but said that a weapon “was involved.”

The officers involved will be placed on routine administrative leave, and the Spokane Independent Investigative Response team will take over the investigation.