Evergreen Middle School Shooting: Suspect Killed by Deputy After Reported Gun Threat

A tense situation outside Evergreen Middle School in Spokane Valley, Washington, ended Tuesday, September 8, after a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man who authorities say presented an apparent lethal threat near the school.

Deputies were called to Evergreen Middle School at about 11:30 a.m. following a 911 report about a suspicious man walking across the school’s football field toward the campus. The caller initially described the man as behaving suspiciously and adjusting his waistband before later reporting that he appeared to be carrying a firearm.

School officials quickly placed Evergreen Middle School into lockdown as law enforcement responded. Within minutes, a school resource deputy arrived and reported that shots had been fired. Additional deputies rushed to the scene and found the suspect down.

According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect approached the deputy and presented what appeared to be a firearm, creating what authorities described as a lethal threat. The deputy responded with deadly force. Life-saving efforts were attempted, but the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

No students, school employees or other people at the school were reported injured. Authorities said the suspect never entered the school building.

The incident prompted a second security concern when deputies discovered a bag that the suspect was believed to have discarded near the school. The regional explosives disposal unit responded because technicians could not immediately determine whether the bag contained an explosive device. The bag was rendered safe, and further examination indicated that it did not contain an explosive device.

Students and staff were eventually moved from the school and transported to Valley Real Life Church, where parents and guardians could reunite with them. School officials said the district used established emergency procedures throughout the incident and planned to provide counseling support for students affected by the traumatic events.

The deputy involved in the shooting was placed on administrative leave, as is standard during an officer-involved shooting investigation. An independent regional investigative team is examining the circumstances, including the actions of the suspect and the deputy and the origin of the initial 911 call. Authorities have said it remains unclear whether the person who made the call was the same individual later confronted by the deputy.

The identity of the deceased suspect had not yet been publicly released, pending notification and further investigation. Authorities also had not released the deputy’s name.

Despite the frightening circumstances, officials confirmed that all Evergreen Middle School students and staff were safe. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish exactly what led to the confrontation outside the school and the subsequent fatal shooting.