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Washington shooting leaves 3 dead, including suspect, and 2 SWAT team members critically injured
Three people, including a suspect, died after a shooting and exchange of gunfire with deputies at a home in Spokane County, eastern Washington, on Tuesday. Two SWAT team members were critically injured, making the incident a serious event for local families and law enforcement.
Deputies arrived at about 2.30 pm after a woman told a neighbour that her brother had shot her. The sheriff said the suspect had an active felony warrant and there might be other victims; one person was found dead inside the home and another in the yard. The woman was hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries, while the deputies were taken to hospital. Authorities have not released the identities and are investigating what led to the shooting.
In short
- Three people died, including the suspect.
- Two deputies were critically injured.
- The woman who reported being shot had non-life-threatening injuries.
Explained simply
Spokane County is in eastern Washington state, where the elected sheriff’s office handles policing in areas outside some city departments. SWAT teams are specially trained law-enforcement units called to incidents considered especially dangerous.
A felony is a serious criminal offence, and an active warrant allows police to arrest someone suspected or convicted of an offence. In this case, the reported warrant and concern that others might be at risk help explain why deputies and a SWAT team went to the home; investigators are examining what happened there.