SIIR Team Investigates the October 16, 2022, Officer-Involved Shooting
The Spokane Independent Investigation Response (SIIR) Team continues the independent investigation into the Officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on October 16, 2022, near the intersection of W. 1st Avenue and S. Cedar Street.
SIIR Investigators remained at the scene for several hours as they conducted interviews and collected evidence with Spokane County Sheriff’s Forensic Unit personnel.
SIIR Team Investigators recovered a semi-automatic handgun near the suspect and several spent casings of various calibers from the scene.
The suspect remains hospitalized in critical condition.
SIIR Investigators obtained a search warrant for the vehicle the suspect arrived in and recovered a large quantity of a Controlled Substance and another semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.
On September 16, 2022, at approximately 11:00 am., Spokane Police Department Officers, members of SPD’s SWAT Team, Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF) learned a suspect of a joint SIU/DEA narcotics distribution investigation was in a car near the intersection of W. 1st Street and S. Cedar Street.
At approximately 11:19 am, multiple plain-marked police vehicles, with emergency lights activated, converged on the suspect vehicle, blocking it to prevent a possible escape.
Immediately, the adult male suspect exited the vehicle with a handgun and began shooting at Officers. The suspect and Officers exchanged gunfire, ending with the suspect being struck and falling to the ground. A Spokane Police Officer suffered a head injury when he was struck by what is believed to be a bullet/fragment.
The suspect was provided medical aid and transported to the hospital with life-threatening wounds. At last check, he remains hospitalized, in critical condition.
The injured Spokane Police Office was treated at the hospital and released.
The adult male, adult female, and child inside the vehicle the suspect was a passenger in were uninjured. They were detained and later released without charges.
The Officer Involved Deadly Force Protocol was enacted, and the Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR) Team responded to the scene to conduct an independent investigation of the incident.
The SIIR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Spokane Valley Police Department, Liberty Lake Police Department, and the Airway Heights Police Department.
In compliance with WAC 139-12, Spokane Police Department personnel will not be involved in the independent investigation.
- The Spokane Independent Investigative Response (SIIR) Team is investigating this Officer-Involved shooting.
- The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is the case managing agency in this incident. All future communications regarding this incident will be sent via the SIIR Team.
- The Spokane Police Department will release the names of the Officers involved in this incident at a later time when appropriate.
Once the SIIR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
