Spokane County deputy dies, second not expected to survive after Spangle shooting By Luís Henrique Costa
3 min read
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Four people died, including a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy and the suspect, after a shooting at a home in Spangle, Washington. Deputies were met with gunfire as they tried to force open the front door to serve an arrest warrant and reach possible domestic violence victims inside. A second deputy was critically wounded and remains on life support, and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says he is not expected to survive.
The response began on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when neighbors called emergency services after helping a woman who had been shot by her brother. Deputies found that the man had an outstanding felony arrest warrant and could have access to more weapons. Because other people might be inside, the sheriff’s office brought in SWAT teams, including one from Kootenai County, Idaho.
Officers then moved toward the house to carry out what the sheriff’s office called an emergency entry, a forced entry made to stop an immediate threat. As they reached the front door, shots came from inside and two deputies were critically injured. Sheriff John Nowels said the wounded men are young members of the SWAT team, and other deputies returned fire while pulling them to cover.
Deputies were shot as they tried to breach the door
Investigators found two more people dead after the gunfight ended, one inside the house and another in the yard. The suspect was also found dead on the property, and officials have not released the names of the dead.
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The woman who was shot first was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. She gave investigators her first account of the events that led to the call for help.
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Nowels said it was “a very tragic day in Spokane County, and a lot of families have been affected.” Investigators have not said what led to the shooting. Local reporting describes it as the first shooting death of a sheriff’s deputy in Spokane County since 1867.
Where the shooting happened and which agencies are involved
- Location: 18700 block of South Smythe Road, in Spangle, about 18 miles south of Spokane, near the Idaho border.
- Roads: part of Interstate 90 and U.S. 195 were closed for emergency transport.
- Investigation: the Spokane Independent Investigative Response team, with the Washington State Patrol as point of contact.
- Use of force: the Washington State Patrol is reviewing the deputies’ use of deadly force, and three other deputies who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave.
Timeline from the first call to the deputy’s death
- About 2:25 p.m. on Tuesday: deputies respond to a report that a woman had been shot by her brother.
- About 3:15 p.m.: SWAT and deputies approach the house to make the entry.
- Tuesday night: the wounded deputy dies. He is survived by his wife and two children.
- Wednesday: the sheriff’s office says the second deputy remains on life support and is an organ donor.
Emergency numbers and consular help for Brazilians in the United States
- Emergency: call 911 anywhere in the United States to report gunfire or a life-threatening situation.
- Consular help: the Brazilian Consulate-General on duty offers emergency support and guidance on documents for Brazilian citizens abroad.
- Domestic violence: reports can be made to municipal police or to victim support centers that operate around the clock.
