Swat Team Trades Shots With Gunman

A Spokane police swat team exchanged gunfire with a suicidal gunman late Saturday night in the East 600 block of Indiana.

Police had blocked off several blocks around the apartment in the Gonzaga University neighborhood as the standoff continued early this morning.

Police Chief Terry Mangan said the man came out of his apartment between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday armed with a rifle and a handgun and hid behind a car, daring officers to shoot him.

Mangan said the gunman fired the rifle at an officer, hitting a tree behind the officer and then another shot in the air.

Police returned fire. Officers didn’t know whether or not the gunman was hit, but he retreated inside the apartment and turned off the light.

Mangan said the neighborhood was filled with people in town for Gonzaga University’s graduation and the situation was very dangerous.

The standoff was continuing at presstime.

, DataTimes