Spokane Deputy Dies, Second on Life Support After Spangle Shootout, Sheriff Says

A Spokane County sheriff's deputy has died and a second deputy is on life support and not expected to survive after they were shot during a domestic-violence call near Spangle, Washington, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office said on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. The sheriff's office said one deputy passed away late on Tuesday evening from his injuries, hours after both men were wounded when gunfire met officers trying to enter a home in the 18700 block of South Smythe Road, about 18 miles south of Spokane. The second deputy remains on life support, and officials said he is an organ donor who will continue to save lives even in death.

The update confirmed the fears that had hung over Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center since Tuesday, when the two young deputies — both described as SWAT members — were rushed to hospital with life-threatening wounds. Their names have not been released, and their families have asked for privacy. Three other people died in the original incident, including the suspect, meaning four people are now dead in total. A woman who ran to a neighbour's home saying her brother had shot her survived with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Key Points

• One Spokane County deputy died late Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from gunshot wounds suffered near Spangle, the sheriff's office said Wednesday.
• A second deputy is on life support and is not expected to survive; officials said he is an organ donor.
• The deputies were shot at about 3:15 p.m. to 3:19 p.m. on Tuesday when officers tried to breach a home on South Smythe Road after a woman reported being shot by her brother.
• Three people died at the scene, including the suspect, and a woman who sought help at a neighbour's home survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
• The deputies' names have not been released, and the Spokane Police Department is leading the homicide investigation while Washington State Patrol reviews the use of force.

What Happened

The call began on Tuesday afternoon when a woman fled to a neighbour's home and reported that her brother had shot her. Deputies went to the home on South Smythe Road, in the small community of Spangle south of Spokane, and a SWAT team was called to assist. At about 3:15 p.m., as SWAT members and deputies advanced toward a door of the home and tried to breach it, they were met with gunfire from inside.

Two deputies were hit and suffered significant, life-threatening injuries, and other deputies returned fire. Finding both deputies critically injured, officers requested immediate life-saving medical aid, including Life Flight helicopters, and a portion of Interstate 90 and US Route 195 was closed so the wounded men could be transported to hospital. One deputy was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center by patrol car and the other was flown by helicopter.

Inside the home, investigators later found one person dead. Another body was found in the yard, and the suspect was also found dead on the property. The sheriff's office has not said whether the suspect was killed by deputies' gunfire or by his own hand, and that question is part of the ongoing investigation. Three deputies who fired their weapons were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after a shooting involving officers. On Tuesday evening, Sheriff John Nowels told reporters that both deputies were fighting for their lives and that both had very young families.

Spokane Deputy Dies After Spangle Shooting

The sheriff's office statement on Wednesday was brief but sombre. It said the deputy who died passed away late on Tuesday evening, and that the second deputy remained on life support with injuries that were not survivable. The office said the second deputy is an organ donor, and that arrangements were being made so that he would continue to serve others through the gift of life.

The sheriff's office also paid tribute to both men in a statement quoted in local coverage: "Although we know our Deputies knew the risks, they bravely moved toward danger to protect others they did not know. They did this with honor and with an unwavering sense of duty to their oath to serve and protect the citizens of Spokane County; they heroically placed themselves in mortal danger."

Background and Context

Spangle is a small town of only a few hundred people in Spokane County, about 18 miles south of the city of Spokane in eastern Washington. Calls like Tuesday's — a domestic-violence report at a rural home — are among the most dangerous assignments in policing, because officers often arrive with limited information about who is inside, whether weapons are present, and how a volatile situation may unfold.

Reactions and Statements

The sheriff's office statement on Wednesday focused on honour and duty, and on the families left behind. On Tuesday evening, before the death was announced, Sheriff John Nowels had already signalled how serious the injuries were, saying both deputies were fighting for their lives and that both had very young families, and asking for privacy for those families.

Why It Matters

The death of a deputy in the line of duty matters far beyond the badge he wore, because it touches every part of the community he served: the family that has lost a husband and father, the colleagues who answered the same call and watched two of their own fall, and the residents of Spangle and Spokane County who rely on deputies to answer the most dangerous calls at any hour. When a second deputy is also not expected to survive, the loss doubles, and the grief spreads through an entire sheriff's office.

What Happens Next

The Spokane Police Department's homicide investigation will continue, with the Washington State Patrol reviewing the use of force by the three deputies who fired their weapons. Investigators will work to establish the full sequence of events inside and around the home, including how the suspect died, who the other two victims were, and what happened in the hours before the woman fled to her neighbour's home.

Read more: Three dead, two Spokane deputies critical after Spangle shooting in Washington and Citibank Tampa shooting: guard stopped gunman in shootout, sheriff says.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened near Spangle, Washington?

Two deputies were shot on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, trying to enter a home near Spangle after a woman reported being shot by her brother. One died late Tuesday; the second is on life support.

How many people died in the Spangle shooting?

Four in total: the deputy, the suspect, and two others found dead at the scene. The woman who reported being shot survived.

Have the deputies been named?

No. The sheriff's office has not named the deputies, the suspect or the other victims, and has asked for privacy for the families.

Who is investigating the shooting?

Spokane Police lead the homicide investigation; Washington State Patrol reviews the use of force. Three deputies who fired are on administrative leave.

What did the sheriff's office say about the second deputy?

He is on life support, not expected to survive, and is an organ donor who will continue to save lives.