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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police release names of officers involved in shooting

From staff reports
Spokane police have confirmed officers Jake Jensen, Danny Lesser and Adam Valdez were all involved in the police shooting of a homicide suspect last week. The incident was Lesser’s fourth officer-involved shooting. Lesser, an 18-year veteran of the department, was cleared of any wrong-doing in the previous incidents.

From left to right, Lesser, Valdez and Jensen.

Valdez, a 7-year veteran of the department, had one previous officer-involved shooting. It was the first for Jensen, who has been on the force for 12 years. Spokane police released the names of the officers although the sheriff’s office is conducting an investigation into the incident as dictated per protocol. Justin Cairns, 21, died Thursday morning after being shot by police outside a Nine Mile Falls home. Police said Cairns shot and killed Cyrus C. Jones, 33, on West Grace Avenue earlier that morning. According to court documents, officers believed Cairns was reaching for a firearm when he was shot at least once and killed. A handgun was later found in the grass near where Cairns had jumped a fence.