SPOKANE, Wash – A search warrant filed in the case of a young man shot last week by a school resource officer shows the man who was killed was the one who called 911.
A deputy shot 20-year-old Joel Malin last week outside of Evergreen Middle School in Spokane Valley.
Surveillance video released Friday shows Malin running at the officer’s car, raising what turned out to be a replica firearm.
The incident started with a call to 911 last week, with a man describing a suspicious person walking towards the school.
The caller was very specific, saying the person appeared to be sweating and carrying a Glock in their pocket.
A search warrant filed in the case shows the call came into 911 from a man saying his name was Jack N. Saints. He gave his phone number and described the gun.
Six minutes later, still on the call, the dispatcher heard shots being fired.
“During the investigation, it was discovered that Jack N Saints was false name [sic],” the detective wrote in the application for the search warrant. “The caller’s actual identity was Joel B Malin. Furthermore, it appeared that he was describing himself to the 911 operator prior to the lethal encounter.”
An attorney representing Malin’s family commented last week on the video release.
The attorney credited Spokane Police Chief Kevin Hall for transparency in the investigation and for releasing the video without requiring the family to file a lawsuit in order to get it.
“Joel’s death is a horrible tragedy that will affect his family and many members of his community for years,” the attorney said in a statement. “If you are experiencing a mental health crisis please reach out for help.”
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