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Tragedy as two Army vet deputies with wives and young children are killed in ambush after attempting to rescue hostages from gunman who shot dead mom and sister
Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies Mason Acheson and Parker Perry died after being shot while entering a home to rescue a woman who had reported a chest wound. Their deaths highlight the risks faced by emergency responders attending a domestic violence incident.
Deputies went to the home on Smythe Road at about 2.25pm on Tuesday and later entered with a SWAT team. The 37-year-old suspect, Ryan Larsen, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; his mother and sister were also killed, while the woman who called 911 survived with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Acheson and Perry each leave a wife and two children; Perry’s wife is expecting a third child, and he was an organ donor.
In short
- Two Spokane County deputies died after being shot during a rescue attempt.
- The suspect and two family members also died; the 911 caller survived.
- Both deputies leave young families, and Perry was an organ donor.
Explained simply
Domestic violence incidents can become dangerous when emergency services arrive, particularly if someone at the scene has a weapon. Police may send specialist teams, such as SWAT, to help manage the risk and reach people who need medical care.
Spokane County is in Washington state, in the north-western United States. Its sheriff’s deputies are county law-enforcement officers who respond to calls across the area, including reports of violence and people needing urgent help.