Two calls brought officers to site of fatal shooting

Police dispatchers received two 911 calls reporting domestic violence at the northwest Spokane home where officers shot and killed a 26-year-old man early Sunday, the Washington State Patrol announced today. Investigators believe a physical altercation occurred between Kenneth R. Dennis and his girlfriend, Crystal A. Barrett, 24, before police arrived at 5726 N. Elgin St., Trooper Troy Briggs said in a news release. In a search warrant filed Wednesday, Spokane police said Dennis was shot after he “almost stabbed one of the officers.” According to the warrant, Cassandra L. Shear, a friend of Barrett’s, called police to say that Barrett “was locked inside the house and was being pushed by her intoxicated boyfriend.” She called again to say she wasn’t being allowed in the home. A 13-inch knife was found near Dennis’ body, WSP said. Shell casings from the two officers also were recovered. The officers, identified only as a 48-year-old sergeant with 18 years of experience and a 31-year-old officer with two years of experience, who have not been publicly identified, have not yet been interviewed, said Briggs, spokesman for the multi-agency investigative team. “They did a tactical debriefing, but the complete interviews of the officers will come at a later date,” he said.