Watch CBS News

Wash. cops fatally shoot man who crashed through crime scene

A murder suspect was shot and killed upon returning to a crime scene in Spokane, Wash., authorities say
Washington murder suspect shot dead at crime scene 01:00

SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane police shot and killed a man who they say drove through police barricades at the scene of a woman's murder and got out of his truck with what appeared to be a gun.

Police Chief Frank Straub says the man was a suspect in the woman's murder. Her body was found inside a home Tuesday morning. Neighbors told CBS affiliate KREM that the female murder victim was dating the suspect.

Police spokesman Tim Schwering says "what appears to be a firearm" was found next to the man's body after he was shot Tuesday afternoon.

Reporters and photographers had gathered nearby after learning police were investigating a death at the house.

"[People] started yelling, 'get down, get down!'" Henry Sasser, who witnessed the police shooting as he was walking home, told KREM. "When [the suspect] came out [of the car], he was crouched down. He had a grey object in his hand. It was pretty clear it was a handgun of some kind. As soon as officers saw the weapon, they started shooting him."

Police say the Spokane County medical examiner will identify both the man and the woman.

A regional law enforcement team will investigate the man's death.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.