Two Spokane County sheriff’s deputies were killed while trying to reach possible hostages inside a home near Spangle, Washington. They had responded after a woman called for help following a domestic violence shooting, authorities said.
Deputies Mason Acheson and Parker Perry were shot from inside the home on Nov. 3 as they attempted to enter. The sheriff’s office and Spokane Valley Police Department said they were heartbroken by the deaths and would support the deputies’ families.
Officers arrived at about 2:25 p.m. after a woman reported being shot. Authorities said they learned the suspect had an active felony warrant and might have more weapons. Because other people could still be inside, SWAT teams were called in. The woman was taken to hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening.
Perry, a K-9 deputy, responded with his dog, Brego. He joined the team approaching the home at around 3:15 p.m. and forced his way inside, according to the sheriff’s office.
When Perry and Acheson were hit by gunfire, other officers returned fire, moved the deputies to safety and began treating them. Medical helicopters were requested, and sections of Interstate 90 and U.S. Highway 195 were closed to help transport them to hospital.
Acheson died after reaching the hospital. Perry remained on life support while plans were made for him to donate his organs. The sheriff’s office said he would “continue to serve others with the gift of life.” Both deputies had wives and two children; Perry and his wife were expecting another child.
Police took charge of the home while SWAT teams from Spokane and Kootenai County responded. A drone sent inside located the suspect, who was dead. The Spokane County medical examiner said Ryan Larsen, 37, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The examiner also identified two other people killed as Suzanne Larsen, 72, and Rebecca Larsen, 45. A family obituary identified them as his mother and sister.
“It was a very tragic day in Spokane County,” Sheriff John Nowels said. “A lot of families have been affected.”
Acheson and Perry served in the same Washington Army National Guard infantry battalion. Acheson enlisted in 2011, became a sergeant and served in Poland from 2021 to 2022, earning three Army Commendation Medals. Before joining the sheriff’s office in 2022, he spent eight years as a Washington State Patrol trooper and firearms instructor. He later served as a SWAT sniper, watching over teammates during dangerous operations.
“In the face of danger, he stepped forward to preserve life,” the sheriff’s office said of Acheson.
Perry joined the sheriff’s office in 2020 and served on its SWAT team for three years before becoming a K-9 deputy in 2025. He joined the National Guard in 2017, rose to captain as a military intelligence officer and received two Army Commendation Medals. The sheriff’s office said he responded to the call near Spangle “on his own, without prompting.”
FBI Director Kash Patel paid tribute to both deputies, noting their military service and promising support for their families, friends and colleagues. The FBI also issued separate statements honoring them.
Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Washington Republican, said he knew Acheson and his wife through a CrossFit gym. Acheson’s wife had been his children’s first piano teacher, he said, describing them as “just wonderful people.” Baumgartner also asked people to keep both families in their thoughts, saying the deputies died protecting their community.
Gov. Bob Ferguson ordered flags at state facilities lowered to half-staff on Monday, Nov. 9, in the deputies’ honor.
The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said donations were being collected to help pay funeral expenses, with any remaining funds going to the families. The office thanked the public for its condolences and asked that the families’ privacy be respected as they grieve.
