SPOKANE- According to a search warrant filed in the Spokane County Superior Court, a firearm was found near the body of Kerry Jones-Hilburg– the suspected shoplifter at a Walmart in north Spokane–after he was shot and killed December 3.
Jones-Hilburg was killed by a Spokane Police officer after he resisted arrest and fought them.
Investigators believe Jones-Hilburg was carrying a gun. They say they’ve traced that gun to a vehicle prowl that happened in Airway Heights in 2021.
The new court documents also reference the autopsy that shows Jones-Hilburg tested positive for methamphetamine.
Documents also mention Tylor Forester, a man who they say was trying to interfere with officers as they were fighting with Jones-Hilburg before the deadly shot was fired.
Forester was arrested on charges of Third-Degree Assault to a Law Enforcement Officer and Obstructing a Law Enforcement Officer.
He was booked into the Spokane County Jail and is accused of obstructing justice.
NonStop Local met with Forester in the County Jail Friday.
“I saw these cops tackle this guy, I didn’t really know what it was for. This guy was yelling and screaming, ‘Stop. Please stop. Please stop,'” Forester said.
Forester argues he only intervened to help someone he saw was being beaten.
He told NonStop Local he did not know Jones-Hilburg.
“…he’s [Jones-Hilburg] yelling and screaming…And no one’s doing anything but watching and filming this guy getting beat. Like, he’s bleeding from the skull. Getting beat. So, I walked up to the officer. And said, ‘Hey, Sir.’ Didn’t assault him. I didn’t grab him. Didn’t push him. I didn’t do anything of the sort. I just said ‘Sir, you’re being excessive.’ Then he just kept running after the other guy,” Forester said.
Walmart Loss Prevention employees and witness statements helped identify Forester, which allowed Spokane Independent Investigative Response Team (SIIR) establish probable cause to arrest him.
“I’m feeling bullied. I feel like this is like a wrongful punishment for what happened,” Forester said.
