Shooting Stems from “Road Rage” Incident
Spokane County Major Crimes Detectives continue to investigate an apparent road rage incident that quickly escalated, resulting in one of the involved males being shot.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already been contacted by law enforcement is asked to call Detective Mike Drapeau at 509-477-6921.
On September 12, 2019, just prior to 5:00 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to multiple calls of a reported shooting at the intersection near the 8600 block of N. Seven Mile Rd. in Northwest Spokane County.
Arriving Deputies learned an adult male, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest, had been transported to the hospital. The second adult male involved in the incident had left the scene prior to the arrival of Deputies.
Minutes later, the second male called in his location, a short distance away, and that he just shot a male who began punching him following a road rage incident. Deputies responded and detained him without incident.
From witness statements, Investigators learned the male who had been shot was a passenger of a gray Toyota sedan. At the intersection of Seven Mile Rd. and Nine Mile Rd., the male exited the Toyota and approached a blue Subaru and began yelling at the driver. The incident quickly escalated as the male began physically assaulting the driver of the Subaru. Suddenly, the male grabbed his chest, backed away from the Subaru and stumbled back to the Toyota before falling to the ground.
Two females in the Toyota jumped out to assist the male who had just been shot. The Subaru pulled forward and left the scene.
Multiple people at the scene provided first aid to the injured male until medical personnel arrived. The male was quickly transported from the scene to the hospital with possible life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the Subaru was advised of his rights and agreed to answer questions. During an interview, he explained the incident stemmed from a road rage incident. The male, a rear passenger of the Toyota, began flipping him off when the two cars arrived at the stop sign. He became more irate, leaning his body out of the window, yelling profanities, spitting toward the driver’s vehicle while telling the driver to get out of the car and fight him. The male opened the door of the Toyota, got out, and walked toward the Subaru driver’s door. The driver of the Subaru stated he retrieved a handgun he had in his vehicle and loaded it in sight of the aggressively approaching male. The male continued to yell as he approached, even yelling for the driver to shoot him as he continued to taunt the driver and challenge him to fight. The driver told him to stay back, or he would be shot, but the male continued to advance. The male reached into the window and during the ensuing struggle, punched the driver in the face several times. The driver being assaulted and believing the male was attempting to take his firearm, fired the handgun and the male’s assault stopped, and he stepped back. The driver said he panicked, tossed the pistol onto the passenger’s seat, and left the scene. Once at a safe location, he immediately called 911.
Investigators processed the scene for evidence which included the driver’s Beretta 9mm pistol.
After receiving additional witness statements, in addition to the evidence gathered at the scene, and the Subaru driver’s account, Investigators determined he appeared to have acted in self-defense, probable cause did not exist for his arrest and he was released.
The male, who was shot and appears to be the predominate aggressor, remains hospitalized and was listed in serious but stable condition. This continues to be an active investigation; the names of the males are being withheld and no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Detectives again ask anyone who witnessed this incident and has not already been contacted by law enforcement to call Detective Mike Drapeau at 509-477-6921.
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Corporal Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Valley Police Department
Public Information Officer