Two Washington state sheriff’s deputies were shot and killed as they moved in to rescue possible hostages after a woman called for help following a domestic violence shooting, authorities said.
Spokane County sheriff’s deputies Mason Acheson and Parker Perry came under fire from inside a home near Spangle, south of Spokane, as they tried to make entry on Nov. 3, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office and Spokane Valley Police Department said they were devastated by the loss and vowed to stand by the deputies’ families.
“They bravely moved toward danger to protect others they did not know,” the agencies said in a joint statement. “They are true examples of selfless service and dedication.”
Deputies were first dispatched around 2:25 p.m. after a woman reported she had been shot. According to the sheriff’s office, responding deputies learned the suspect had an active felony warrant and could have access to additional weapons. With other victims potentially still inside the home, a SWAT team was called to the scene.
The woman was taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
Perry, a K-9 deputy, responded to the call with his dog, Brego. Around 3:15 p.m., he joined the team approaching the house and forced his way inside, the sheriff’s office said.
When gunfire struck Perry and Acheson, their fellow officers returned fire, pulled the two deputies to cover and began treating their wounds.
Medical helicopters were requested, and stretches of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 195 were shut down to speed the deputies’ transport to the hospital, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Acheson died after arriving at the hospital. Perry was kept on life support while arrangements were made for him to donate his organs. The sheriff’s office said Perry would “continue to serve others with the gift of life.”
Both deputies leave behind wives and two children. Perry and his wife were expecting their third child.
Back at the home, Spokane police took command of the scene after SWAT teams from Spokane and Kootenai County were called in. A drone sent into the house located the suspect dead, the State Patrol said.
The Spokane County medical examiner ruled that Ryan Larsen, 37, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, The Spokesman-Review reported. The medical examiner also identified two others found dead as Suzanne Larsen, 72, and Rebecca Larsen, 45. A family obituary identified them as Larsen’s mother and sister, according to the newspaper.
“It was a very tragic day in Spokane County,” Sheriff John Nowels told reporters, according to the outlet. “A lot of families have been affected.”
Acheson and Perry served together in the same Washington Army National Guard infantry battalion, the sheriff’s office said.
Acheson enlisted in 2011 and rose to the rank of sergeant. He deployed to Poland from 2021 to 2022 and earned three Army Commendation Medals over the course of his military career.
Before joining the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office in 2022, Acheson spent eight years as a Washington State Patrol trooper and firearms instructor. As a SWAT sniper, he kept watch over his teammates as they entered dangerous situations.
The deaths of the two deputies have left the Spokane community and the law enforcement agencies they served reeling, as officials pledge continued support for the families left behind.
[READ MORE: Trump Explains Reversal on Susie Wiles After Saying There Was ‘Zero Chance’ He Would Replace Her]
