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Man Takes His Own Life in Spokane Valley
Spokane Valley Sheriff’s deputies tried to deescalate a very volatile incident last night in the area of 1st and Farr in Spokane Valley that tragically ended with the man taking his own life.
The incident began at approximately 8:30 p.m., when the male was contacted during a traffic stop in the area of Freya and Sprague after failing to stop at a stop sign. During the traffic stop, deputies learned the man was in possession of a legally owned handgun.
At approximately 9:00 p.m., he was issued a misdemeanor traffic citation for driving with a suspended license, his vehicle was towed, and he was released from the scene with his firearm which deputies had no legal reason to seize.
A few minutes later, a caller reported hearing gunshots in the area of 1st and Rebecca and a male walking away with a gun in his hand. Several Spokane Police Department and Spokane Valley Police Department patrol units began searching for the male.
At approximately 10:50 p.m., a caller reported seeing a male walking with a gun in his hand. Deputies located the male and began giving him commands but the male continued walking and refused to follow those commands.
In the area of Appleway and Farr, the male stopped in a parking lot and placed the handgun to his head. Deputies tried to negotiate with the man and deescalate the situation as less lethal options arrived at the scene. At one point the male, who continued to not follow commands, put the gun down to his side as he turned and began walking away in the direction of an apartment complex. Two less-lethal beanbag rounds were fired and the male went to the ground. Soon after, he placed the handgun to his head and fired, tragically taking his own life.
The male was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the male when appropriate to do so.
The Officer Involved Protocol was enacted. SIRR Team investigators responded to the scene to conduct the investigation and processed the scene for evidence.  The SIRR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Police Department, the Washington State Patrol and the Spokane Valley Police.
• The Washington State Patrol is the managing agency in this incident. All future communications on this incident will be sent via the SIRR Team.
• Once the SIRR Team investigation is complete the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Public Information Officer
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