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

Deputies involved in fatal shooting following chase identified

From staff reports
Six Spokane County sheriff’s deputies fired the shots last week that killed Jed Zillmer, a 23-year-old Afghanistan war veteran who police have said threatened to kill civilians and himself after a high-speed chase. The Sheriff’s Office released the names of the deputies involved per agency protocol Tuesday morning. Among the shooters was Deputy Brian Hirzel, a five-year veteran of the agency who shot and killed Wayne Scott Creach, 74, in 2010. Other deputies involved were Brett Hubbell, Jeff Thurman, Dale Moyer, Ryan Walter and Randy Watts. Watts has spent the least amount of time with the Sheriff’s Office, deputized 10 months ago, according to a news release. The other deputies have at least five years of experience with the force and most have earned commendations for their work.

From left to right, Hirzel, Hubbell and Moyer.

From left to right, Thurman, Walter and Watts.
Zillmer was clad in body armor and carrying three weapons when he was shot and killed at the intersection of East Indiana Avenue and North Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley on Feb. 11, investigators said. Zillmer had called 911 and indicated he was suicidal, leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase that ended near the Spokane Valley Mall. The Spokane Investigative Regional Response team is handling the investigation into the shooting, with the Spokane Police Department heading the probe. Zillmer was the sixth man killed by Spokane area law-enforcement since the beginning of 2013, according to Spokesman-Review reports.
This story is developing and will be updated with more information as it is available.