CHENEY, Wash. – An armed suicidal man surrendered to the Cheney Police Department (CPD) after discharging several rounds into an apartment ceiling on Wednesday, Jan. 24 in the 700 block of W 1st St. Police arrived at the scene at approximately 3:30 a.m.
The subject, identified as 21-year-old Asahel Chavez, fired another round when CPD officers announced their presence to a neighbor and three more at the front door where officers were believed to be present.
CPD officers established a perimeter around the area and urged Chavez to surrender while instructing other apartment complex residents to shelter in place. Additional support from Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Airway Heights Police Department and Eastern Washington University Police Department was also requested.
Chavez refused to exit the apartment after police had issued repeated commands requiring the Spokane County Sheriff Office SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation to respond to the scene.
It was discovered during negotiations that Chavez was still armed with a rifle and had texted a family member about planning “suicide by cop.”
Chavez surrendered at approximately 6 a.m. and was booked into the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Jail for the following charges: assault in the first degree with a deadly weapon, seven counts of reckless endangerment, malicious mischief in the second degree and seven counts of discharging a firearm within city limits.
CPD Detectives recovered and seized several firearms, ammunition, and spent casings in the apartment.
All residents of the complex were able to evacuate safely.
