Officers involved in House of Charity shooting identified

The Spokane Police Department has released the names of the three officers involved in the fatal shooting of a homeless man outside the House of Charity on April 28.

Officers Chris LeQuire, Ryan Akins and Brandon Lynch have a combined 16 years experience with the department as commissioned officers and volunteers. Only Lynch and Akins fired their weapons, said department spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller.

The officers were wearing body cameras during the incident. Police and witnesses said that Michael Kurtz approached officers while holding a knife and demanded that they shoot him.

The shooting is being investigated by the Spokane Investigative Regional Response Team led by the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.