SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – A police shootout in Spokane Valley disrupted local business on Sunday morning. The incident began with a carjacking at Whistle Stop Coffee Shop in Spokane Valley, where the suspect reportedly used an AR-15 to steal a car from a young man and his daughter before heading east on the freeway to Idaho.
Kootenai County’s Stateline Village became the first deadly location of the crime spree. The suspect shot and killed a man at a gas station before speeding back to Spokane County. The third and final carjacking took place near Lynden Road and McKinzie Road.
The chase ended at the intersection of Trent and Pines, where the suspect crashed. Marcie Bagby, manager of nearby restaurant Stormin’ Norman’s, described the chaos. “And that’s when I came out and opened up the door and they were actually in the process of shooting when I opened up the door and they told me to go back in so I went back in and told everybody to get down and lock the door,” she said.
Bagby nearly got caught in the crossfire during the police shootout that resulted in the suspect’s death. Despite the restaurant remaining open, Bagby said the crime scene impacted business. “But during that time we definitely lost quite a bit of business because of father’s day. I would say at least $2000 yesterday,” she stated.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said the suspect did not have a significant criminal history in the area. “And I will say he does not have a significant criminal history in this area and we are trying to follow up and figure out what the motive may have been because it is not readily obvious why the suspect tried well did commit these horrendous crimes,” he said.
The investigation continues as authorities work to determine a motive for the suspect’s actions. Bagby reflected on the event, saying, “I don’t really…it’s just sad. I mean you just never know what’s gonna happen.”
