Friday night standoff with armed felon in downtown apartment ends peacefully, police say

A report of a gun accidentally going off inside a downtown Spokane apartment building led to a Friday night standoff that ended peacefully.

Spokane police were notified just after 7 p.m. that a gun had been fired, likely accidentally, inside a communal area of a large apartment building at 240 W. Sprague Ave.

Officers arrived and learned that the person suspected of shooting the firearm, Michael Handsome, 59, was inside his apartment, was a convicted felon and was precluded from legally possessing a firearm.

Police say Handsome refused to peacefully surrender, so a SWAT team and hostage negotiators were called in to assist and some building residents were evacuated.

Just before midnight, Handsome surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody without further incident.

A warrant was executed on Handsome’s apartment, where a firearm and other evidence was collected, police said.

Handsome was booked into Spokane County Jail for unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment.