A man wanted on a felony warrant opened fire from inside a Spokane County home on deputies who came to help his wounded sister, killing one deputy and leaving another on life support.
Story Highlights
- On Tuesday, November 3, deputies went to a home near Spangle, Washington, after a woman said her brother had shot her
- The brother had an active felony warrant, and deputies feared others in the house were in danger, the sheriff said
- As SWAT deputies tried to break down the door, gunfire came from inside and struck two of them
- Four people are dead: one deputy, two other people at the home and the gunman
- The second deputy was on life support and not expected to survive, the sheriff’s office said Wednesday, November 4
- The sheriff’s office said the second deputy is an organ donor and “will continue to serve others with the gift of life.”
What Deputies Faced At The Smythe Road Home
Deputies were sent at about 2:25 p.m. to a home on South Smythe Road, near the small farming town of Spangle, south of Spokane. A woman had run to a neighbor’s house and said her brother had shot her. Deputies learned the brother had an active felony warrant, which is a court order to arrest someone on a serious criminal charge. They also found a body in the yard and believed other people inside the home could be in danger, officials said.
At about 3:15 p.m., the SWAT team moved in. SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics, a unit trained for armed and dangerous situations. “SWAT team members and deputies approached the house, attempted to breach the door and were met with gunfire,” Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels said. Two deputies were hit. Other deputies fired back while they pulled their wounded teammates to safety.
Crews called in medical helicopters and closed parts of Interstate 90 and U.S. 195 so the wounded deputies could be flown to the hospital. The woman who first asked for help was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Four Dead, And A Second Deputy On Life Support
The gunman was found dead inside the home. Another person was found dead inside, along with the body in the yard. Officials have not released the names of the two victims or said how they were related to the gunman. Officials also have not said whether the gunman was killed by deputies’ return fire or by his own hand.
Officials have not named the gunman. Local reports, citing interviews and public records, identified him as Ryan T. Larsen, 37, of Spangle, a man with a history of weapons violations and running from police.
One deputy died of his wounds, the sheriff’s office announced Wednesday, November 4. He leaves behind a wife and two children, Nowels said. Both deputies were young members of the SWAT team, and neither has been publicly named. The sheriff’s office said the second deputy remained on life support, surrounded by his family, and was not expected to survive. “As an organ donor, arrangements are being made, and he will continue to serve others with the gift of life,” the office said.
Why Domestic Calls Can Turn Deadly So Fast
Calls about violence at home can be some of the most dangerous that officers answer. A frightened victim, a wounded person and an armed suspect behind a closed door can turn a rescue into a firefight in seconds. That is what deputies faced on Smythe Road. They went toward the house because they believed someone inside might still be saved.
The danger to officers across the country is real. Police agencies reported 90,178 assaults on officers in 2025, the highest rate in ten years, according to FBI figures. Each number stands for an officer who went to work to protect someone else.
What Comes Next
Investigators are working to piece together what happened inside the home, including who fired each shot. Officials have not released the names of the deputies or the victims while families are told.
The sheriff’s office praised both men. “They bravely moved toward danger to protect others they did not know,” the office said. “They are the epitome of what the men and women in law enforcement are; they are the best of all of us.” For one family, a husband and father will not come home. For another, a young deputy’s final act of service will be the gift of life to strangers.
Sources:
foxnews.com, idahonews.com, cbsnews.com, usatoday.com, abcnews.com, lmtribune.com, newstalk870.am, fbi.gov