Police Department

Officer Involved Shooting in North Spokane

Ofc. Terry Preuninger

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 8:15 a.m.

Update 04/24/2024

Spokane Police Department releases names of officers involved in the OIS near Shadle Park High School

The following officers were involved in the incident that took place on 4-18-24:

• Officer Matthew Stewart
• Officer Samuel Canty
• Officer Joshua Stewart

Original Release

On 4-18-24 at about 4:30 PM Spokane Police Officers received a 911 call of a shooting in the 5900 block of North Lindeke. The caller reported a man had been threatened by another male with a knife and then the same male who was wielding the knife pulled out a handgun and fired it. The armed man then fled in a vehicle.

Once police arrived, they learned the following initial information, which indicates that the victim was attempting to tow the suspects’ vehicle as part of a repossession. The suspect tried to thwart the attempt by both threatening the tow truck driver and then stabbing, and shooting a tire of the tow truck.

Investigating officers were able to identify the suspect and learned that due to his previous felony convictions he was legally prohibited from carrying or possessing a firearm. In addition, they found the Spokane County Sheriffs Office had filed a report in late 2023 where the suspects girlfriend had advised he was armed and dangerous and was considering engaging with police in an attempt to have them shoot him. Officers further learned the suspect was involved in a shooting in the city in late 2023 where he allegedly, unlawfully fired a handgun.

Officers developed probable cause for the crimes of drive by shooting and unlawful possession of a firearm from the incident on Lindeke.

At about 6:11 PM Officers advised the suspect may be in, or near Shadle Park.

At 6:14 PM Officers advised the suspect was running on foot in Shadle Park heading South. Within a minute Officers advised shots had been fired.

At the time the suspect was located he was running in the general direction of a high school baseball game being played in the Shadle Park High School (SPHS) baseball field. Officers pursued him past the baseball field and the shooting took place at the edge of the SPHS campus at Longfellow Ave.

Three SPD Officers fired their sidearms. The suspect was struck multiple times and a handgun was recovered where he went to the ground. Officers provided initial medical care to the suspect who was then transported to the hospital with life threatening gunshot wounds.

Per standard protocol, three Officers, believed to have fired their weapons, will be placed on administrative leave.

As an involved agency, Spokane Police Department personnel will not be involved in this investigation in compliance with WAC 139-12.

• All future communications will be sent via the SIIR Team. The Washington State Patrol is the case managing agency for this incident. The SIIR Team is comprised of multiple agencies in eastern Washington, including the Washington State Patrol, Liberty Lake Police Department, Airway Heights Police Department, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office, and the Spokane Police Department (As stated above, the involved agency, SPD will not be involved in the investigation.)
• The Spokane Police Department will release the names of the involved officers at a later date.
• Once the SIIR Team investigation is complete, the case will be forwarded to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

• Newer
• Older