SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — SWAT officers have shot and killed a suspect after a 12-hour standoff in Spokane Valley.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), the suspect started a fire at 10:56 a.m. After he started the fire, he walked out of the home. The SWAT team then shot and killed the suspect.
The house fire is under control, but officers have not gone inside to clear the building. According to authorities, there are wires in the house that could be explosives.
During the 12-hour standoff, police tried to get the suspect to cooperate, even using tear gas. SCSO said the suspect did not cooperate and even wore a gas mask to resist authorities. The suspect continued to resist arrest, shooting through open windows in his home at neighbor's houses and shooting down two police drones.
Neighbors reported the suspect had fired shots from his house that went through the walls of neighboring homes.
The house fire was started by a barricaded suspect on the 18600 block of E. Lindsay Ln.
Jim Kale lives across the street from the house. He was woken up around 2:30 a.m. by deputies who told him to shelter in place or leave. Kale chose to leave the scene.
"I wasn't worried until I saw the fire, because the police have been very diligent. Had a very strong presence," Kale said.
The standoff also forced Greenacres Elementary School to close for the day.
"Thank you for your patience as we take this extra precaution to keep families and staff safe as our top priority," the school posted on Facebook.
This incident began on Monday, Nov. 14, at approximately 11:00 p.m., when the suspect's neighbors reported hearing gunshots, and after checking their residence, they located what appeared to be two bullet holes.
Deputies arrived at the area and attempted to contact the suspect.
Several agencies are at the scene, including the SWAT Team, Crisis Negotiators, Mental Health Co-Responder Units, Spokane Regional Air Support Unit members, Spokane Valley Fire Department, and American Medical Response (AMR).
This is a developing story. This article will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
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