SPOKANE, Wash. — A man who police say attempted to set a house on fire died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a long standoff with Spokane police and SWAT on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Spokane Police Department (SPD), officers responded to a domestic violence call on March 3 around 1 p.m. The caller said the suspect had attempted to light the house on fire near the 3200 block of West Boone Avenue. The caller was able to get the fire out safely and was removed from the home.
SWAT responded alongside the Spokane Fire Department, drones and K9s. SPD said there is no threat to the public.
Police said the man had barricaded himself in the bedroom of the residence and set the living room on fire. Officers successfully put out the fire while they escorted the victim out of the home.
SPD reported the man was possibly armed with a gun. SPD tried to communicate with the male unsuccessfully for over an hour.
Eventually, SPD sent over an Explosives Disposal Unit robot and drone to the residence to locate the male who appeared to have committed suicide.
The SPD Major Crimes Unit responded and is conducting an investigation.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct a concurrent and separate investigation, they will release the name of the deceased at a later date.
