SPOKANE, Wash. — Six officers with the Spokane Police Department were involved in the fatal police shooting of a 36-year-old murder suspect on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Shawn McCoy, 36, died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the medical examiner. He was believed to be a suspect in a fatal shooting in east central Spokane.
McCoy was killed on Jan. 5 after police said he fired shots at officers while attempting to escape a traffic stop at the intersection of Queen and Ash, according to Spokane Police Ofc. Ronald Van Tassel.
Officers had an arrest warrant for McCoy related to the murder investigation, Van Tassel said. Officers attempted to pull McCoy over after he was found driving in north Spokane and used a PIT maneuver on the McCoy's car when he attempted to flee the scene.
After the vehicle came to a stop, McCoy exited the car firing a weapon, Van Tassel said. Officers returned fire, hitting McCoy.
Officers attempted to give the man first aid and medics from the Spokane Fire Department also tried to treat the man at the scene. However, the suspect was pronounced dead, Van Tassel said.
The Spokane Police Department identified the officers involved in the shooting on Jan. 12, 2021. Sergeant Brent Austin, Corporal Anthony Guzzo, Officer Kyle Heuett, Officer Winston Brooks, Officer Brandon Lynch and Officer Brandon Fabian fired their weapons during the police shooting, Officer John O'Brien said.
Victim was murder suspect, police say
Police said McCoy was a suspect in a Dec. 27 shooting in East Central Spokane.
Officers with the Spokane Police Department responded to a report of the shooting in the area of Madelia Street and 1st Avenue at about 6 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, according to Officer John O'Brien. They found the male shooting victim inside of a home in the area.
The victim was later identified as 41-year-old Joseph Buskirk. The Spokane County Medical Examiner said he died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
Buskirk told police he had been shot outside of the home while standing next to his car, according to O'Brien.
Medics arrived on scene to take Buskirk to an area hospital for a life-threatening injury, O'Brien said. He later died at the hospital.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is taking over the investigation of the police shooting.