SPOKANE, Wash. — The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office announced on Friday that it will not file criminal charges against a Spokane Police Department officer who shot and killed a suspect in December 2023.
The Prosecutor’s Office determined that SPD Officer Karl Richardson was justified in his use of deadly force against Kerry Jones-Hilburg, who was a suspect under arrest for shoplifting from a North Spokane Walmart on December 3, 2023.
According to a press release from the Prosecutor’s Office, Jones-Hilburg was armed with a concealed gun and attempted to reach for the gun while resisting arrest, prompting Richardson to shoot and kill Jones-Hilburg.
The Prosecutor’s Office says Walmart Loss Protection Officers (LPO) were monitoring Jones-Hilburg with SPD Officer Dylan Pavlischak and called for police backup when they noticed him disabling security devices and placing expensive items in his pockets.
Officer Richardson responded to the call and approached Jones-Hilburg with Officer Pavlischak after he left the Walmart. The officers attempted to detain Jones-Hilburg, who reportedly became defensive and ran away from the officers.
The officers reportedly used both physical means and tasers in an attempt to detain Jones-Hilburg before he reached for his concealed firearm.
Richardson observed the movement and called out that Jones-Hilburg had a gun before drawing his duty weapon and firing a single shot at Jones-Hilburg.
The officers then reportedly handcuffed Jones-Hilburg and began emergency aid until medics arrived. Jones-Hilburg was declared dead on the scene by medics.
Subsequent investigation determined that Jones-Hilburg was armed with a loaded and operable Springfield XD40 caliber semi-automatic pistol that he carried in a shoulder holster located under his left arm.
The serial number on the firearm exposed the fact that it was stolen in 2021 in a car prowling incident in Airway Heights. Jones-Hilburg was also determined to be a convicted felon who was not allowed to possess a firearm.
Autopsy results showed that at the time of his death, Jones-Hilburg had both amphetamine and methamphetamine in his system.